
They are distinguished by the absence of the first pair of pleopods. The Southern Hemisphere ( Gondwana-distributed) family Parastacidae, with 14 extant genera and two extinct genera, live(d) in South America, Madagascar, and Australasia. Their phylogeny can be shown in the simplified cladogram below: Astacideaįour extant (living) families of crayfish are described, three in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern Hemisphere. Anatomy Ĭrayfish are closely related to lobsters, and together they belong to the infraorder Astacidea. The study of crayfish is called astacology. In the Eastern United States, "crayfish" is more common in the north, while "crawdad" is heard more in central and southwestern regions, and "crawfish" farther south, although considerable overlaps exist. Some kinds of crayfish are known locally as lobsters, crawdads, mudbugs, and yabbies. The largely American variant "crawfish" is similarly derived. The word has been modified to "crayfish" by association with "fish" ( folk etymology). The name "crayfish" comes from the Old French word escrevisse ( Modern French écrevisse). The term "crayfish" is applied to saltwater species in some countries. Crayfish feed on animals and plants, either living or decomposing, and detritus. Most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, although some species, such as Procambarus clarkii, are hardier. Some species are found in brooks and streams, where fresh water is running, while others thrive in swamps, ditches, and paddy fields. Taxonomically, they are members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. In some locations, they are also known as baybugs, crabfish, craws, crawfish, crawdaddies, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, mountain lobsters, mudbugs, rock lobsters, signal crawfish, or yabbies.

Cajun style Crawfish A man selling dried crayfish at an African marketĬrayfish are freshwater crustaceans belonging to the clade Astacidea, which also contains lobsters. Establishing a breeding population from introduced captive-bred animals.

Rearing white-clawed crayfish at Cynrig hatchery, Wales.
