Freckled Crayfish

Cambarus maculatus

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The freckled crayfish is largely restricted to the Courtois Hills section of the Meramec River basin.

Chris Lukhaup

Species of Conservation Concern

Family:

Cambaridae (freshwater crayfish) in the order Decapoda (shrimp, crabs, and lobsters)

Description:

This powerfully built, yellowish-tan crayfish has numerous conspicuous black spots on its pincers, carapace, and abdomen. The freckled crayfish is distinguished from all other species within its range by the pattern of conspicuous black spots over the entire dorsal (top) surface. As with many Ozark crayfish, the river system it occurs in is a big clue for identification.

Size:

Adult length: about 2 to 3¼ inches.

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Habitat and conservation:

The freckled crayfish lives in the very clear, high-gradient, spring-fed streams and small rivers of the Meramec Basin. Rarely seen in the open, it digs burrows in gravel beneath large rocks and stays there, probably emerging at night to feed. Where it occurs, it is not as abundant as the other crayfish that live in the same streams.

Foods:

Crayfish are generally omnivores, eating a wide variety of plant and animal materials.

Distribution in Missouri:

This crayfish occurs only in the Meramec River basin of the Missouri Ozarks, especially the eastern and central areas of the basin, the Courtois Hills.

Status:

The freckled crayfish has a very limited range within Missouri and occurs nowhere else in the world (it is endemic to our state). It is a Missouri Species of Conservation Concern, since it is vulnerable to extinction. It was first described scientifically as a new species in 1988.

Life cycle:

Mating probably occurs in the fall, and females have been observed carrying eggs in May. Apparently they carry eggs about a month later than do female spothanded, golden, and saddlebacked crayfish, which often occur in the same areas. Freckled crayfish apparently can live to about 4 years of age.

Human connections:

Crayfish are eaten by many types of wildlife, including species that humans hunt and fish. Crayfish are fascinating, colorful creatures in their own right, and part of our rich native heritage. Species of Conservation Concern, such as this one, are protected from harvest by state law.

Ecosystem connections:

Crayfish are an important link in the food chain between plants and other animals, breaking down plant materials that are resistant to decay. Crayfish in turn are an important food for many other animals. Presence of crayfish in a stream or pond usually indicates good water quality.

About Aquatic Invertebrates in Missouri

Missouri's streams, lakes, and other aquatic habitats hold thousands of kinds of invertebrates — worms, freshwater mussels, snails, crayfish, insects, and other animals without backbones. These creatures are vital links in the aquatic food chain, and their presence and numbers tell us a lot about water quality.

Common Features

Freshwater Mussels Facts

How to Identify

Crayfish Facts

Common Features

Aquatic Invertebrate Facts