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Crayfish
Decapoda (Order)
At-a-Glance
• Length: 3 inches (average)
• Typical Foods: snails, algae, insect larvae, worms, tadpoles, and some vegetation
• Eggs Hatch: 2 to 20 weeks, depending on water temperature
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Description
The crayfish has a joined head and midsection, and a segmented body. It has two pairs of sensory antennae, a pair of eyes on movable stalks and four pairs of walking legs. It also has one large claw that is specialized for capturing food, attack and defense. The hard, jointed outer skeleton provides protection and allows movement. This outer "shell" is molted periodically. The crayfish comes in a variety of colors, such as yellow, green, white, pink, or dark brown.
Habitat and Habits
All of Ohio's crayfish can be found in freshwater lakes and streams, where they often hide under rocks and logs. Five pairs of small swimmerets located under the abdomen helps the crayfish to move in water. They are most active at night.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Crayfish reach sexual maturity early in life and usually mate in the fall. Although sperm is transferred to the female during copulation, ovulation and fertilization of the egg are delayed until the following spring. After fertilization, the hundreds of eggs are attached to the females' swimmerets. They remain with the mother after hatching until their second molt. |
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