Page 89 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife

yfish

(Cambaridae)

Description

Crayfish have ten walking
legs and large claws on
the front pair of legs.
They use their claws
to defend themselves,
attack prey and move
things. Crayfish breathe
dissolved oxygen through
gills on either side of the
cephalothorax (the head
and thorax). The females lay their eggs and carry them on their abdomen until
they hatch. When the eggs hatch, they carry the babies around until they are
big enough to live on their own.

Distribution and Habitat Crayfish are generally very sensitive
to pollution and found in relatively
Crayfish live under rocks in streams unpolluted waters.
and creeks, ponds, large rivers and
swamps. They are found in all five
physiographic provinces.

Role in Food Web

Crayfish are scavengers and will eat
dead plants and animals. They like
to eat earthworms, insects, insect
larvae, and the eggs of Bluegills,
Largemouth Bass, Spring Peepers,
toads and Spotted Salamanders.
Predators include Raccoons,
opossums, Muskrats and snakes.

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