24 June 2010

Astacus: You might wonder what that is and if you are a biologist you will know. Astacus leptodactylus, the Danube crayfish or Galician crayfish. Crayfish, crawfish or crawdads is all members of the super families Astacoidea and Parastocoidea.

These are freshwater crustaceans that resemble small lobsters to which they are related. They are found in water that does not freeze to the bottom and mostly found in brooks and streams where there is fresh water running and have plenty shelter against predators. Crayfish or Astacus can not tolerate polluted water. Ways they breathe are through feather-like gills and they feed on living and dead animals and plants.

In South Africa and also in Australia and New Zealand the term crayfish or Cray refers to a saltwater spiney lobster of the genus Jasus that is indigenous to the southern Ocean while the freshwater species are called yabby or koura from the indigenous Australian.

Astacus or crustacean’s predators vary from fish, birds, and otters to the Whale Shark. They are also very popular as bait for fishermen.

Even though the Astacus is not yet in danger and doesn’t need protection, it still needs our respect and the human population needs to be aware of them so that we don’t have to put them on the endangered list.

Another room of The Roundhouse that is honoring Mother Nature.

The study of crayfish is called Astacology.