Species · GBIF taxon 2227300
Red Swamp Crayfish
Procambarus clarkiiAlso known as Louisiana Crawfish, Mudbug, Louisiana Crayfish, Red Swamp Crawfish
Red swamp crayfish are highly adaptable, aggressive crustaceans recognizable by their bright red coloration and bumpy, narrow claws. They are prolific burrowers, digging deep tunnels into banks to survive dry spells and cold winters. Their high reproductive rate and tolerance for poor water quality have allowed them to colonize freshwater ecosystems globally, where they often outcompete native species.
InvasiveAquaticBurrower
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aquatic Plants
- Snails
- Insect Larvae
Predators
- Raccoons
- Great Blue Herons
- Largemouth Bass
ThreatsHabitat degradation in native range; widely secure and expanding globally
HabitatsSwamps, marshes, slow-moving rivers, ponds, and flooded agricultural fields
Life span2 to 5 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCambaridae
- SpeciesProcambarus clarkii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Possesses strong claws capable of delivering a painful pinch; handle with care behind the carapace.
- Why it is dangerous
- Equipped with powerful, spiny claws used for defense and capturing prey, which can pinch hard enough to break human skin.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Distinguished by bright red body coloration, narrow claws covered in red bumps, and a dark wedge-shaped stripe on the abdomen.
- What to do
- Never grab them by the limbs or from the front; pick them up from behind the thorax or use a small net.
Responsible observation
- Safe Handling: Grasp the crayfish firmly from directly behind the claws on the carapace to avoid being pinched.
- Invasive Reporting: Document and report sightings outside their native southern US range to local wildlife authorities.
- Burrow Identification: Look for mud chimneys near water edges, which indicate active underground tunnels.
Competitor (c) Parsa Fard, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Competitor (c) Kristof Zyskowski, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kristof Zyskowski · cc-by
Predator (c) Basar, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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