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Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.
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Description
The only freshwater crayfish native to the UK (3), this species is olive-green to brown in colour and can reach up to 12 centimetres in length. The common name refers to the fact that the undersides of the claws are off-white to pinkish in colour. Females tend to have wider abdomens than males, and males have larger claws. In males, the first two appendages are specialised; they are used to place a sperm mass (spermatophore) underneath the female during mating (2).