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Crayfish Burrow

Photo by Machi
Published on Project Noah
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28.7219, -81.3034

Field Notes

Description:

Very large dirt balls that have been excavated from this burrow

Habitat:

Spring Hammock Preserve. Old growth forest. This burrow was pretty far from any of the streams on the preserve.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (11)
HemaShah
Hi Machi, I created and uploaded a spotting. Maybe you can provide insight into mine. Thanks. https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/397426002
Machi
Thanks Hema, but I am almost positive these are not fiddler crabs. I have seen fiddler crabs and their holes many times. Unless these were uncharacteristically large and in a very unusual environment for them, I think crayfish is more likely.
HemaShah
I cannot argue with an expert of course. I saw these on Meritt Island on Pt 9 of the wild drive surrounded by fiddler crabs.
HemaShah
https://rebeccainthewoods.wordpress.com/tag/crabs/
Machi
I think the crayfish is probably more like it. I have never seen crab holes (or the sand clumps they dig up) this large.
Yasser
check this out: https://twitter.com/ichnologist/status/477075101817397248 Most likely a burrow and pellets from a freshwater crayfish.
Scott Frazier
Was it wet/damp though? Your description of many such holes, and their size, makes me think of crayfish (Arthropod). See the last photo and caption under "Descent with Modification" at this link http://www.georgialifetraces.com/tag/burrows/ BTW and just for information, the category "other" is a catchall for invertebrates that are not also Arthropods. It doesn't however mean "unknown".
Machi
The only thing is that these were in a forest far away from saltwater and any large bodies of water.
Scott Frazier
Yes, you should probably move this spotting to Arthropods. :-)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Wildlife of the South East, USA
Mission
Signs of Wildlife
Mission
Florida's Flora & Fauna

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Photographed
PublishedJune 6, 2014

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