Crayfish (possibly a Red Swamp Crayfish)
Scientific Name: Procambarus clarkii
Order & Family: Order Decapoda, Family Cambaridae
Size: Typically 5.5 to 12 centimeters (2.2 to 4.7 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Found in freshwater systems including rivers, streams, ponds, and especially rice paddies or flooded areas.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous scavengers eating aquatic plants, snails, insects, small fish, and decaying organic matter.
Behavior Patterns
Primarily nocturnal and known for digging deep burrows into the banks of water bodies to survive dry spells.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem as a food source for many animals; however, they can be highly invasive, displace native species, and damage infrastructure with their burrowing.
Identified on: 2/28/2026