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white river crayfish
white river crayfish (Procambarus acutus)
Photo © Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Features and Behaviors
FEATURES
The white river crayfish has long, narrow claws. It is pink-brown to dark red on its back. Large individuals are dark red with a black rectangle on each abdominal segment.
BEHAVIORS
This crayfish lives in the deep water of swamps, sloughs and sluggish streams. It prefers areas with abundant vegetation. A burrow may be constructed to live in when water bodies reach low levels. A burrow may also be used in the winter or by a female when carrying eggs or young. This crayfish feeds on vegetation.
Illinois Range
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Cambaridae
Illinois Status: common, native
