For the marine crustaceans commonly known as crayfish, see spiny lobster. This article is about the animal For the B-52's song see Rock Lobster.

Crayfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Crustacea Class: Crustacea Subclass: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Suborder: Pleocyemata Infraorder: Astacidea Superfamily: Astacoidea Latreille, 1802 Parastacoidea Huxley, 1879
Families
Astacoidea   Astacidae   Cambaridae Parastacoidea   Parastacidae

Crayfish, crawfish, or crawdads, are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are closely related. Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting The Malacostraca (Greek "soft shell" are the largest class of Crustaceans and include most of the animals that non-experts recognize as crustaceans including The decapods or Decapoda ( literally means "ten footed") are an order of Crustaceans within the class Malacostraca, including many Pleocyemata is a sub-order of decapod crustaceans, erected by Martin Burkenroad in 1963  Astacidea is a group of decapod Crustaceans including Lobsters Crayfish and their close relatives Pierre André Latreille ( November 20, 1762 - February 6, 1833) was a French entomologist. Parastacidae is the family of Freshwater Crayfish found in the Southern hemisphere. Thomas Henry Huxley PC FRS (4 May 1825 – 29 June 1895 was an English Biologist, known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his advocacy In Biological classification, family ( Latin The family Astacidae comprises the Freshwater Crayfish native to Europe and western North America. Cambaridae is the largest of the three families of Freshwater Crayfish, with over 400 species  Parastacidae is the family of Freshwater Crayfish found in the Southern hemisphere. Parastacidae is the family of Freshwater Crayfish found in the Southern hemisphere. Freshwater is a word that refers to bodies of water such as Ponds lakes rivers and streams containing low concentrations of dissolved Salts and other Total dissolved Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting Clawed lobsters compose a family ( Nephropidae, sometimes also Homaridae) of large marine Crustaceans Lobsters are economically important as They breathe through feather-like gills and are found in bodies of water that do not freeze to the bottom; they are also mostly found in brooks and streams where there is fresh water running, and which have shelter against predators. A gill is an anatomical structure found in many aquatic organisms Most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, although some species such as the invasive Procambarus clarkii are more hardy. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability disorder harm or discomfort to the physical systems or living organisms they are in Introduced species|Weed Invasive species is a phrase with several definitions Procambarus clarkii is a freshwater Crayfish Species, native to the Southeastern United States, but found also on other continents Some crayfish have been found living as much as 3 m (10 feet) underground. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit

In Australia and New Zealand, the name crayfish (or cray) generally refers to a saltwater spiny lobster, of the type Jasus that is indigenous to much of southern Oceania, whilst the freshwater species are usually considered a yabby, or a koura, from the Aboriginal, and Māori, names for the animal. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island This article is about the animal For the B-52's song see Rock Lobster. Jasus is a Genus of Spiny lobsters which live in the Oceans of the Southern Hemisphere   Freshwater is a word that refers to bodies of water such as Ponds lakes rivers and streams containing low concentrations of dissolved Salts and other Total dissolved Indigenous Australians are descendants of the first known human inhabitants of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. This article discusses the Māori people of New Zealand For their language see Māori language, and for other meanings see Māori (disambiguation.

The study of crayfish is called astacology ^[1].

Contents 1 Names 2 Anatomy 3 Geographical distribution and classification 4 Crayfish as a dish 5 Crayfish as pets 6 Crayfish plague 7 Other 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links

Names

The name "crayfish" comes from the Old French word escrevisse (Modern French écrevisse) from Old Frankish *krebitja (cf. Old French was the Romance Dialect continuum spoken in territories which span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Old Frankish was the language of the Franks and it is classified as a West Germanic language. crab), from the same root as crawl. Crabs are decapod Crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (βραχύ / brachy The word has been modified to "crayfish" by association with "fish" (folk etymology). Folk etymology is a term used in two distinct ways A commonly held misunderstanding of the origin of a particular word a False etymology. The largely American variant "crawfish" is similarly derived. Phonology North American English regional phonology In many ways compared to English English, North American English is conservative in its Phonology.

Some kinds of crayfish are known locally as lobsters, crawdads ^[2], mudbugs ^[2] and yabbies. Clawed lobsters compose a family ( Nephropidae, sometimes also Homaridae) of large marine Crustaceans Lobsters are economically important as Cherax is the largest and most widespread Genus of fully and partially aquatic Crayfish in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Eastern United States, "crayfish" is more common in the north, while "crawdad" is heard more in central and western regions, and "crawfish" further south, although there are considerable overlaps ^[3]. The Eastern Half of The United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River.

Anatomy

Main article: Decapod anatomy

The body of a decapod crustacean, such as a crab, lobster, or prawn, is made up of nineteen body segments grouped into two main body parts, the cephalothorax and the abdomen. The decapod Crustacean such as a crab lobster shrimp or prawn is made up of nineteen Body segments grouped into two main body parts the Cephalothorax The decapods or Decapoda ( literally means "ten footed") are an order of Crustaceans within the class Malacostraca, including many Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting Segmentation in biology refers to the division of some Metazoan bodies and Plant body plans into a series of semi-repetitive segments and the question of The cephalothorax (call prosoma in some groups is an anatomical term used in Arachnids and Malacostracan Crustaceans for the In Vertebrates such as Mammals the abdomen (belly constitutes the part of the body between the Thorax (chest and Pelvis. Each segment may possess one pair of appendages, although in various groups these may be reduced or missing. An appendage in the broadest sense is an additional or subsidiary part existing on or added to something which can generally still function if the appendage has never existed or A crayfish is usually 7. 5 centimeters long, but may grow larger.

Geographical distribution and classification

commercial
crustaceans
crab
crayfish
krill
lobster
shrimp
fishing industry
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There are three families of crayfish, two in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern hemisphere. Northern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is North of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' Southern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is South of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' The southern-hemisphere (Gondwana-distributed) family Parastacidae lives in South America, Madagascar and Australasia, and is distinguished by the lack of the first pair of pleopods ^[4]. Gondwana (ɡɒnˈdwɑːnə originally Gondwanaland) was a southern Supercontinent that existed about 500 to 200 Ma ago Parastacidae is the family of Freshwater Crayfish found in the Southern hemisphere. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern Australasia is a Region of Oceania: New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and neighbouring Islands in the Pacific The decapod Crustacean such as a crab lobster shrimp or prawn is made up of nineteen Body segments grouped into two main body parts the Cephalothorax Of the other two families, members of the Astacidae live in western Eurasia and western North America and members of the family Cambaridae live in eastern Asia and eastern North America. The family Astacidae comprises the Freshwater Crayfish native to Europe and western North America. For the superstate in George Orwell 's novel see Nations of Nineteen Eighty-Four. Cambaridae is the largest of the three families of Freshwater Crayfish, with over 400 species 

The greatest diversity of crayfish species is found in south-eastern North America, with over 330 species in nine genera, all in the family Cambaridae. Cambaridae is the largest of the three families of Freshwater Crayfish, with over 400 species  A further genus of astacid crayfish is found in the Pacific Northwest and the headwaters of some rivers east of the Continental Divide. The family Astacidae comprises the Freshwater Crayfish native to Europe and western North America. The Pacific Northwest is a region in the northwest of North America (the term refers to the land not the ocean A continental divide is a line of elevated Terrain which forms a border between two watersheds such that Water falling on one side of the line eventually

Australasia is another centre of crayfish diversity, with over 100 species in a dozen genera. Australasia is a Region of Oceania: New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and neighbouring Islands in the Pacific Many of the better-known Australian crayfish are of the genus Cherax, and include the marron (Cherax tenuimanus), red-claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus), yabby (Cherax destructor) and western yabby (Cherax preissii). For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Marron is a name given to large freshwater Crayfish found in the south-west corner of Australia. ++++++++++++++++++ The Australian red claw crayfish, also called Queensland red claw or just redclaw, Cherax quadricarinatus, is an Australian The common yabby, Cherax destructor, is an Australian freshwater Crustacean in the Parastacidae family. The common yabby, Cherax destructor, is an Australian freshwater Crustacean in the Parastacidae family. The world's largest crayfish, Astacopsis gouldi, which can achieve a mass in excess of 3 kilograms, is found in the rivers of northern Tasmania. The Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish ( Astacopsis gouldi) is the largest Freshwater Invertebrate in the world Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass

Madagascar has a single (endemic) crayfish species, Astacopsis madagascarensis. Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern Endemism is the Ecological state of being unique to a place Endemic species are not naturally found elsewhere Astacopsis madagascarensis is a species of Crayfish endemic to Madagascar.

Europe is home to seven species of crayfish in the genera Astacus and Austropotamobius. Astacus astacus, the European crayfish, noble crayfish or broad-fingered crayfish, is the most common Species of Crayfish Astacus is a Genus of Crayfish found in Europe and western Asia, comprising three species Austropotamobius is a genus of Crayfish in the family Astacidae.

Cambaroides is native to Japan and eastern mainland Asia. Cambaroides is a Genus of freshwater Crayfish. It contains seven species  Cambaroides dauricus For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics.

Crayfish as a dish

Crayfish are eaten in Europe, China, Africa, Australia and the United States. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the 98% of the crayfish harvested in the United States come from Louisiana, where the standard culinary terms are crawfish or écrevisses.

Louisiana crawfish are usually boiled live in a large pot with heavy seasoning (salt, cayenne pepper, lemon, garlic, bay leaves, etc. The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America ) and other items such as potatoes, maize, onions, garlic, and sausage. The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Organicsalsajpg||thumb|right|Onions used in salsa.]]Cooked onions in frying pan Allium sativum L, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the Onion family Alliaceae. A sausage is a prepared Food, usually made from Ground meat, animal fat salt and Spices (sometimes with other ingredients such as herbs typically packed They are generally served at a gathering known as a crawfish boil. Seafood boil is the generic term for any number of different kinds of social events in which Shellfish is the central element Other popular dishes in the Cajun and Creole cuisines of Louisiana include crawfish étouffée, crawfish pie, crawfish dressing, crawfish bread, and crawfish beignets ^[5], and crayfish are an ingredient in Chicken Marengo. See also [[Cajun]] Cajun cuisine (in French Cuisine cadienne) originates from the French-speaking Acadian or "Cajun" immigrants deported Louisiana Creole cuisine is a style of Cooking originating in Louisiana (centered on the Greater New Orleans area that blends French, Étouffée or etouffee is a Creole and Cajun dish typically served with shellfish or chicken over Rice, similar to Gumbo, very popular Chicken Marengo is an Italian savoury dish, so named for being the dish that Napoléon Bonaparte ate after the Battle of Marengo.

A common myth is that a crawfish with a straight tail died before it was boiled. ^[6]

Crayfish is a popular dish in Scandinavia, and is by tradition primarily consumed during the fishing season in August. The Hooded Merganser ( Lophodytes cucullatus) is a small Duck and is the only member of the genus Lophodytes. Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well The boil is typically flavoured with salt, sugar, ale, and large quantities of the flowers of the dill plant. Salt is a Dietary mineral composed primarily of Sodium chloride that is essential for Animal life but toxic to most land plants Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. Ale is a type of Beer brewed from Malted Barley using a top-fermenting Brewers' yeast. Dill ( Anethum graveolens) is a short-lived perennial herb. It is the sole species of the genus Anethum, though classified by some botanists The catch of domestic freshwater crayfish, Astacus astacus, and even of a transplanted American species, Pacifastacus leniusculus, is very limited and to satisfy demand the majority of what is consumed has to be imported. Astacus astacus, the European crayfish, noble crayfish or broad-fingered crayfish, is the most common Species of Crayfish The signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, is an American Crayfish indigenous to the western United States. Sales depended on imports from Turkey for several decades, but after a decline in supply, China and the United States are today the biggest sources of import. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

The Mexican crayfish is named locally as acocil and was a very important nutrition source of the ancient Mexican Aztec culture; now this kind of crayfish is consumed (mainly boiled) and prepared with typically Mexican sauces or condiments in central and southern Mexico. Acocil is the name for either of two Species of Freshwater Crayfish endemic to Mexico - Cambarellus montezumae and Aztec is a term used to refer to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who achieved political

In China, the culinary popularity of crayfish swept across Mainland China in the late 1990s. Crayfish is generally served with Mala flavour (a combined flavour of Sichuan pepper and hot chili) or otherwise plainly steamed whole, to be eaten with a preferred sauce. In Beijing, the Ma La flavoured crayfish (麻辣小龙虾) is shortened to "Ma Xiao" (麻小) and is often enjoyed with beer in a hot mid-summer evening.

Like other edible crustaceans, only a small portion of the body of a crayfish is edible. In most prepared dishes, such as soups, bisques and étouffées, only the tail portion is served. At crawfish boils or other meals where the entire body of the crayfish is presented, however, other portions may be eaten. Claws of larger boiled specimens are often pulled apart to access the meat inside. Another favourite is to suck the head of the crayfish, as seasoning and flavour can collect in the fat of the boiled interior. A popular double entendre laden phrase heard around crawfish season in Louisiana derives from this practice: "Suck the head, pinch the tail" ^[7]. Not to be confused with Puns which employ multiple phrases A double entendre is a Figure of speech similar to the Pun, in

Crayfish as pets

Crayfish are kept as pets in freshwater aquariums. They prefer foods like shrimp pellets or various vegetables but will also eat tropical fish food, regular fish food, algae wafers, and even small fish that can be captured by their claws, such as goldfish or minnows. The goldfish, Carassius auratus, was one of the earliest Fish to be domesticated, and is still one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish and Their disposition towards eating almost anything will also cause them to consume most aquarium plants in a fish tank; however, crayfish are fairly shy and may attempt to hide under leaves or rocks. When keeping a crayfish as a pet, one must provide a hiding space. At night, some fish become less energetic and settle to the bottom. The crayfish might see this as a chance for an easy meal, or a threat, and injure or kill the fish with its claws. Crayfish are effective scavengers and will consume fish carcasses. They sometimes will consume an exoskeleton after it is moulted. Since crayfish are accustomed to being around ponds or rivers they will have a tendency to shift gravel around on the bottom of your tank, creating mounds or trenches to emulate a burrow. Crayfish are great escape artists and will try to climb out of the tank, so any holes in the hood should be covered. Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps

However, most species of dwarf crayfish, such as Cambarellus patzcuarensis will not destructively dig or eat live aquarium plants. Cambarellus patzcuarensis is a Crayfish in the family Cambaridae with a body measuring 4–5 centimeters including claws ^[8] They are also relatively non-aggressive and can even be kept safely with dwarf shrimp. Neocaridina heteropoda or cherry shrimp is a species of Fresh water Shrimp commonly kept in Aquariums Full-grown cherry shrimp reach Because of their very small size of 1. 5 inches or less, some fish, such as loaches are often a threat to the crayfish than the other way around.

In some nations, such as England, United States, Australia, and New Zealand, imported alien crayfish are a danger to local rivers. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The three species commonly imported to Europe from the Americas are Orconectes limosus, Pacifastacus leniusculus and Procambarus clarkii. ^[9] Crayfish may spread into different bodies of water because specimens captured for pets in one river are often flung back into a different one. There is a potential for ecological damage when crayfish are introduced into nonnative bodies of water.

Crayfish plague

Main article: Crayfish plague

Some crayfish suffer from a disease called crayfish plague. Crayfish plague, Aphanomyces astaci, is a Water mould that infects Crayfish, most notably the European Astacus which dies within Crayfish plague, Aphanomyces astaci, is a Water mould that infects Crayfish, most notably the European Astacus which dies within This is caused by the water mould Aphanomyces astaci. Oomycetes also known as Water molds (or water moulds: see spelling differences) are a group of filamentous unicellular Heterokonts physically Species of the genus Astacus are particularly susceptible to infection, allowing the more resistant signal crayfish to invade parts of Europe. Astacus is a Genus of Crayfish found in Europe and western Asia, comprising three species The signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, is an American Crayfish indigenous to the western United States. Crayfish plague is not indigenous to Europe, rather it was introduced by the incorporation of new species of crayfish from the Americas. ^[9]

Other

The Moche people of ancient Peru worshiped animals and often depicted crayfish in their art. The Moche civilization (alternately the Mochica culture Early Chimu Pre-Chimu Proto-Chimu etc Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. ^[10]

References

Further reading

• Gilbertson, Lance; Zoology Lab Manual; McGraw Hill Companies, New York; ISBN 0-07-237716-X (fourth edition, 1999)
• Johnson, Sterling K. and Nathan K. Johnson. 2008. Texas Crawdads. College Station, Texas. ISBN 978-0-9801103-0-2 available from Crawdad Club Designs

External links

• Louisiana Crawfish Research and Promotion Board
• Crayfish Mates - All Crustacean and Crayfish Forums
• Freshwater aquarium invertebrate, crustacean, crayfish, crabs forum
• How to Peel Boiled Crawfish

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