Species Insects & ArthropodsRed Swamp Crayfish

Red Swamp Crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

CommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

The Red Swamp Crayfish is a deep red crayfish native to the south-central US that has become a major invasive species on multiple continents, disrupting aquatic food webs with its burrowing, herbivory, and predation. It is commercially harvested in Louisiana in enormous quantities and is the primary crayfish of Cajun cuisine. It tolerates poor water quality better than most crayfish.

Habitat
Swamps, marshes, streams, and ditches of the South; invasive worldwide
Diet
Adults: aquatic plants, invertebrates, fish eggs, and organic matter
How common
Common

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