Crayfish

Missouri State Invertebrate

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Crawfish crayfish, or crawdad

Crawfish (crayfish); photo by Alan Goodman on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike).

Official State Invertebrate of Missouri

Missouri designated the crayfish (also called crawfish or crawdad) as the official state invertebrate in 2007. The crayfish was nominated for state invertebrate by Mrs. Janna Elfrink's elementary school class (Reeds Spring, Missouri). All State Fish & Aquatic-Life Symbols

The crayfish resembles a very small lobster. Coloring varies depending on the water it lives in. Missouri has more than 30 species of crayfish (including seven species that occur nowhere else in the world). Crayfish are considered a "keystone species" because they play a key role in aquatic ecosystems.

Missouri

Images

Crayfish in defensive stance; photo by Monica R. on Flickr (use permitted with attribution).

Defensive crayfish (also called crawfish or crawdad)

Crayfish close-up; photo by Bee Collins on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike).

Crayfish close-up

Videos

America's Crayfish: Crawling In Troubled Waters