Distribution of Striped Crayfish Faxonius Limosus in Water Bodies of Belarus

Faxonius limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) was first discovered in the rivers of Belarus in 1997. The striped crayfish spread along rivers originated in Poland. Currently, F. limosus is found in the Neman River and in all tributaries of the first and second orders within the borders of the Grodno region and the rivers of the Western Bug basin of the Brest region of Belarus. The striped crayfish colonizing new places moved upstream of the rivers: the maximum speed of spread was 20 km/year, and the average speed was 7–8 km/year. Males of older age groups appear first in new habitats. As a result of human activity, the migration of striped crayfish from the Neman basin to the Dnieper basin has been noted.