Wildlife Wednesday 10/02/2024
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Sometimes referred to as crawfish, crawdads, river lobsters, or mudbugs, today we are talking about crayfish.
Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans and Ohio is home to over 20 species. Meaning “shelled one” in Latin, a crustacean is an invertebrate animal with an exoskeleton. Crayfish have 10 appendages that are considered legs, with one pair possessing a set of pincers.
Breathing through feather-like gills, crayfish make their homes in brooks, streams, swamps, ponds, and other bodies of water. They are able to filter mud as they feed on plants, animals, and detritus. Crayfish are very intolerant of pollution, so if you find a healthy crayfish it is an indicator that the water is clean in that habitat.
Crayfish are able to swim backwards to evade predators by using their fan-shaped tails as paddles. Predators include raccoons, turtles, wading birds, and large fish. Humans also consume crayfish and they are used in culinary dishes worldwide.
Learn more at our Enchanted Forest event, where Crayfish will be a character on the trail!