Info about Crawfish
Crawfish
Crawfish, more commonly known as Crayfish, are freshwater dwelling crustaceans, which are closely related to lobsters. Their appearance reflects this family link, and they look like small lobsters. They breathe through feather like gills, and live most frequently in brooks and streams with constantly running freshwater. It is uncommon to find fossils of Crawfish dating back before 30 million years ago; however fossilized burrows suggest their presence as far back as the late Paleozoic. It is believed that Crawfish go back to over 115 million years ago, where the earliest member of the family was found on the fossil record, in Australia.
The body of a crawfish, like all other decapods crustaceans, is made up of 19 segments, which are grouped into two main parts- the abdomen and cephalothorax. In terms of size, crawfish usually grow to 17.5 centimeters, although it is possible for them to become larger. There are three different families of crawfish, two of which are in the northern hemisphere, and one in the southern hemisphere. Over 100 different species live in Australasia, and the world’s largest crawfish- which can grow to achieve a mass of 5 kilograms, lives in the rivers of Tasmania. However, the largest diversity of Crawfish can be found in the south east of North America, with over 330 species. In Arizona, crawfish were deliberately introduced in order to serve as a food source for sport fish.
Crawfish have a number of applications for Human use. They are often sold to be used as bait, and are useful for attracting Catfish, Bass, Pike and Muskie. In order to prevent them from attacking the fish and preventing it from biting the hook, live crawfish may have their claws removed in order to act as bait. The use of crawfish as bait has created ecological problems in somewhere, were surviving crawfish that were dumped into the river after fishing managed to outcompete the crawfish that were native to the area, and upset the ecological balance. As well as bait for sport fishing, crawfish are often used as food for Humans. They are served in a variety of countries worldwide, and are prepared in a number of different ways. Like other crustaceans, only a small portion of the body is fit for human consumption, and in most dishes, only the tail portion of the crawfish is served. However, in other situations such as crawfish boils, or for dishes where the entire body of the crawfish is presented, other portions, or the complete body may be eaten. In the same manner as other crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters, crawfish should be cooked by boiling alive. A common myth has sprung up around this fact that suggests the tail of a crawfish will be straight if it died before being boiled and should be avoided. In truth, the tail can be straight or curled in either circumstance, and as long as a crawfish was kept chilled and boiled only a short time after it died, it is usually safe for consumption. A better indication of a crawfish’s edibility is the meat in the tail. If it is mushy, it is likely not suitable for consumption and should be avoided.
Aside from use as food and as bait, crawfish can also be kept as pets. They can be stored in aquariums, and will eat foods such as shrimp pellets and various fruit and vegetables, as well as fish food, algae supplements and even small fish that they can capture in their claws. They need to be placed in an aquarium with suitable other fish as they can often attack fish at night as they run low on energy and drift to the bottom of the tank.