# Eastern Crayfish (*cambarus bartonii*) The Eastern Crayfish is a fascinating creature that lives underwater! Its pincers help it catch food and defend itself from predators. - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers, lakes, and ponds - **Also known as:** Cray, Freshwater Lobster ![Eastern Crayfish](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/168905932/medium.jpg) Photo: Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/168905932) ## Appearance The Eastern Crayfish has a robust, reddish-brown to dark olive body, often with mottling. It has two prominent claws and ten walking legs, and a smoother carapace compared to some other crayfish species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Malacostraca - **Order:** Decapoda - **Family:** Cambaridae - **Genus:** Cambarus ## Interesting facts - A group of crayfish is sometimes called a "waddle" or a "colony"! - Some Eastern Crayfish can live for up to five years! - Their blood isn't red; it's clear or bluish because it lacks hemoglobin! - They breathe underwater using feathery gills, just like fish! ## Special abilities - **Tail Flip Dash:** Eastern Crayfish can rapidly flip their tails to dart backward through water, helping them escape predators quickly. - **Regrowth Power:** Eastern Crayfish can regenerate lost limbs, like claws or legs, allowing them to recover from injuries and continue thriving. - **Burrow Builder:** Eastern Crayfish can dig complex burrows in mud or sand, which provides safe shelter from predators and harsh conditions. - **Night Navigator:** Eastern Crayfish has excellent low-light vision and is more active at night, allowing it to forage for food undetected. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 7 cm - **Weight:** 35 g - **Lifespan:** 4 years - **Clutch Size:** 300 - **Incubation:** 25 days - **Maximum Depth:** 5 m - **Social Structure:** solitary ## Diet & Feeding These busy omnivores munch on tiny plants, algae, insects, and decaying bits they find in the water. - **Primary Foods:** Algae, Aquatic insect larvae, Small invertebrates, Decaying plant matter, Detritus - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — A frequent meal for hungry raccoons. - **Eaten by:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — A common prey item for freshwater game fish. - **Eaten by:** [Great Blue Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-blue-heron) (*Ardea herodias*) — Wading birds often hunt them in shallow waters. - **Hunts:** Mayfly Nymph (*Stenonema modestum*) — Feeds on these tiny aquatic insect larvae. - **Eats:** Green Algae (*Cladophora glomerata*) — Grazes on various forms of aquatic plant life. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Invertebrates](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/invertebrates) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching a crayfish. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Crayfish? Compare body symmetry, shells, segments, legs, tentacles and how the animal moves. Invertebrates span many unrelated groups, so start with body structure. Invertebrate Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern Crayfish? 7 cm ### How much does Eastern Crayfish weigh? 35 g ### How long does Eastern Crayfish live? 4 years ### What does Eastern Crayfish eat? These busy omnivores munch on tiny plants, algae, insects, and decaying bits they find in the water. ### Where is Eastern Crayfish usually found? Freshwater rivers, lakes, and ponds ### How does Eastern Crayfish hunt? Foraging ### How many eggs does Eastern Crayfish lay? 300 ## Where to spot - [Alps Road Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alps-road-park) — New Jersey, US · Park ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Eastern Crayfish: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-crayfish)