Crayfish

=Crayfish= Crayfish are closely related to the American lobster. Crayfish can be white, pink, orange, brown, they can be dark blue or also red. Crayfish are also crustaceans, crustaceans are animals whose bodies are protected by hard shells. In the United states there are more than 230 kinds of crayfish. Did you know that most crayfish don't grow more than 6 inches long unless native to Tasmania, they can get as big as live lobsters? Crayfish are cold-blooded animals. Crayfish are inverterbrates that means they have no backbone. Crayfish eat water plants, tadpoles, inscect nymphs, and dead decaying materials. Crayfish lay their eggs in the spring. A female crayfish lays from 200 to 400 eggs. All crayfish go through a molting process in which they shed their exoskeleton. This allows the crayfish to grow and happens several times a year with young crayfish. A crayfish's fastest motion is in reverse (backwards). They have an exoskeleton (hard shell) that protects them from danger. Special sensory hairs on it's antennae help the crayfish find food.Crayfish are generally only a few inches long, but certain crayfish native to Tasmania, grow as large as average sized lobsters.If an enemy attacks a crayfish may lose a leg on purpose as a means of self protection.Each young crayfish is about 4 ml long.



This is what a crayfish looks like. Crayfish are eaten by people in many countries, including the United States. In the Southern United States, crayfish are called "crawfish" or "crawdads."

Click the links below to find out more about crayfish: Habitat Growth & Reproduction Body Parts & Functions Eating & Food Survival & Protection