CRAYFISH
(Scientific Name: Procambarus alleni)
Researched and presented by: Morgan
Crayfish are cold-blooded invertebrates, and they are crustaceans.
Crustaceans are animals that usually have an exoskeleton and two pairs of
antennas to taste, smell, and feel. Crayfish have 4 pairs of walking legs and a
pair of chelipeds, or pinchers. They have a fanned tail and look like a small
lobster. Crayfish have 5 pairs of swimmerets, which create water currents and
help them reproduce.
QUICK STATS:
LIFE CYCLE:
COMMUNICATION:
‣ Length: average 3 inches
‣ Weight: about 1 ounce
‣ Speed: top speed is about 25 miles per hour
‣ Predators: raccoons, otters, minks,
larger fish, turtles, herons, cranes, bass
‣ Lifespan: 2-4 years
‣ Females can lay about 100-200 eggs, which she carries in a group
under her tail.
‣ Can detect strong urine odors from
other crayfish, which help with
recognition; if the odor is strong, the
interaction between the crayfish will
usually be short and not very
aggressive.
DIET:
‣ Omnivore
‣ Living and dead animals and plants
HABITAT:
‣ North and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe
‣ Slow-flowing freshwater water habitats
‣ Burrow under large rocks or
logs
‣ Can survive on land for short periods of time by breathing through their feather-like gills.
FUN FACTS:
‣ Walk forward on their legs and move
backward only when swimming using
their swimmerets
‣ Can be blue, white, or red
‣ Crayfish molt at the end of June and
sometimes eat their exoskeleton for
calcium.