Red swamp crayfish

Procambarus clarkii · The red swamp crayfish is a freshwater crayfish native to northern Mexico and the southern/southeastern United States, now spread worldwide.

Also called Louisiana crawfish, Red swamp crawfish, Louisiana crayfish, Mudbug.

Red swamp crayfish
Photo: KingKingston1st, CC BY-SA 4.0
Red swamp crayfish
Photo: Paul van de Velde, CC BY 2.0
Red swamp crayfish
Photo: Andrew C, CC BY 2.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassMalacostraca
OrderDecapoda
FamilyCambaridae
GenusProcambarus
SpeciesProcambarus clarkii

Where it lives

Native to the southern US and northeastern Mexico; introduced worldwide.

Fun facts

  • It can survive dry spells lasting up to four months without standing water.
  • It grows fast, sometimes reaching over 50 g in weight and up to 12 cm in length.
  • It can crawl many miles across dry land, especially during wet seasons.
  • A cave-dwelling specimen in Portugal was once found living 240 metres underground.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).