Thursday, September 20, 2007

The Rusty Crayfish

Even though Ohio has more than twenty species of crayfish, the one that you are most likely to see is the Rusty Crayfish. I photographed one of these little creatures in the Olentangy a few days ago. Unfortunately, these animals have been spread around the Midwest, and they are now considered invasive. They outcompete other native crayfish for resources. They have been spread around so much, that their original distribution is somewhat muddy, but it was thought they only inhabitated the Ohio river drainage but now they can be readily found in all parts of the state. The rusty crayfish has a brown spot on the side of its thorax which is visible in the top down shots. I've also noticed its red tipped claws, but I do not know if that is diagnostic.

 

 

 

 
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