crawdads

Crawdads, or crayfish, are freshwater crustaceans commonly found in streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. They resemble small lobsters and play a key role in many aquatic ecosystems as scavengers and prey. They occur worldwide, with dozens of species in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The name crawdad is especially common in the southern United States and parts of Canada; crawfish is also used.

Physical characteristics and habitat: They have a hard exoskeleton, a broad tail, five pairs of legs, and two large pincers on the first pair. They breathe with gills and may inhabit burrows to escape dry periods or predators. Diet is omnivorous, including plants, algae, insect larvae, detritus, and carrion.

Reproduction and life cycle: Reproduction typically occurs in warm months. Females brood fertilized eggs on swimmerets under the abdomen; eggs hatch after several weeks to a juvenile stage that resembles a smaller adult. Most crayfish have direct development, with young resembling adults and no free-swimming larval stage.

Interaction with humans and conservation: In some regions, they are consumed as a delicacy; farmed or used as fishing bait. Non-native species have become invasive and threaten native crayfish and ecosystems. Threats include habitat loss, water pollution, and crayfish plague. Protecting clean water and habitat supports native populations.