Insights on the evolution and conservation of Appalachian burrowing crayfishes, with the description of a new species of Cambarus Erichson, 1846 (Decapoda: Astacidea: Cambaridae).

The article focuses on the description and characterization of a new burrowing crayfish species, *Cambarus nyx* n. sp., from the Kentucky/Tennessee border within the Dissected Appalachian Plateau sub-ecoregion of the United States. Morphologically similar to *Cambarus deweesae*, *C. nyx* is distinguished by its blue coloration, specific chelae serrations, and genetic divergence, with populations separated by Taylor Mountain identified as distinct evolutionary significant units (ESUs). The species has a limited and narrowly distributed range, emphasizing its conservation vulnerability and the broader need for integrative taxonomic and conservation approaches for North American burrowing crayfishes. Genetic analyses suggest a long evolutionary separation from related species, likely influenced by geological events in the Appalachian region.