Freshwater white-clawed crayfish  (Austropotamobius pallipes)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

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).

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