| Crayfish Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Northern kōura, Paranephrops planifrons (Parastacidae) | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| (unranked): | Reptantia |
| Infraorder: | Astacidea |
| Superfamilies and families | |
Crayfish[a] are freshwater crustaceans belonging to the infraorder Astacidea, which also contains lobsters. Taxonomically, they are members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. They breathe through feather-like gills. Some species are found in brooks and streams, where fresh water is running, while others thrive in swamps, ditches, and paddy fields. Most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, although some species, such as Procambarus clarkii, are hardier. Crayfish feed on animals and plants, either living or decomposing, and detritus.[1]
The term "crayfish" is applied to saltwater species in some countries.
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- ^ Christoph Needon; Johannes Petermann; Peter Scheffel; Bernd Scheibe (1971). Plants and Animals (Pflanzen und Tiere). Leipzig: Urania Verlag.