Fauna
Invertebrate

Red Swamp Crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

Also known as Louisiana Crawfish, Mudbug, Louisiana Crayfish, Red Swamp Crawfish

Red swamp crayfish are highly adaptable freshwater crustaceans known for their dark red bodies, long claws studded with bright crimson bumps, and ability to survive drought by burrowing deep into mud. They dig extensive networks of underground tunnels that can weaken ditch banks and earthen levees while disrupting native aquatic food webs. Highly fecund and tolerant of low-oxygen water, these opportunistic omnivores have spread from their native southern wetlands to become a major invasive species across multiple continents.

InvasiveFreshwaterCrustacean
Red Swamp Crayfish reference1 / 7
No machine-readable author provided. MikeMurphy assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain · cc0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAquatic Snails, Insect Larvae, Aquatic Vegetation
Predators
  • Raccoons
  • Great Blue Herons
  • Largemouth Bass
ThreatsLocal eradication efforts where invasive; habitat loss in native wetlands
HabitatsSwamps, marshes, sluggish streams, flooded rice fields, ponds
Life span2–6 years
Classification
  1. OrderDecapoda
  2. FamilyCambaridae
  3. GenusProcambarus
  4. SpeciesProcambarus clarkii
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Large claws can deliver a painful pinch; handle carefully from behind the body.
Why it is dangerous
Equipped with strong, pointed claws capable of inflicting painful pinches and breaking delicate skin when cornered or handled roughly.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for the overall deep crimson body color and slender claws covered in prominent bright red tubercles.
What to do
If lifting a crayfish, reach from directly behind its back to hold the main carapace safely out of reach of its claws.
Responsible observation
  • Handling Technique: Grasp the back of the carapace firmly behind the claws to prevent pinches.
  • Spotting Burrows: Search along muddy waterlines for raised mud chimneys crowning tunnel entrances.
  • Invasive Management: Avoid moving wild crayfish between water bodies or releasing pets into local waters.
Related species
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