Pond Crayfish

The pond crayfish are relatives of marine crabs, lobsters, and shrimps. They live in almost all kinds of fresh waters. I have never seen one with blue legs before. Information in this Species Page was compiled by Alicia Fitzgerald in Biology 220W, Spring 2006, at Penn State New Kensington)

Crayfish (with special reference to genus Cambarus) are extremely distinctive freshwater crustaceans. Their large anterior-most pairs of legs have powerful claws which are efficient tools for defense, food gathering, and object manipulation. Their four pairs of walking legs assist them in rapid locomotion across the bottom substrates of their aquatic habitats. Surprisingly, they are not really capable of swimming although they can use powerful thrusts of their tails to rapidly propel themselves (backwards) through the water. This latter movement is particularly effective when the crayfish is attempting to elude a predator