Crayfish Dissection Laboratory

Crayfish Ecology Crayfish are found in streams,

rivers, lakes and ponds where the water contains adequate amounts of calcium salts.

They are primarily nocturnal, hiding in crevices and under rocks during the day and emerging to feed at night.

They will eat almost anything organic - plant or animal, living or dead.

External Anatomy

Sexing your crayfish

female male

female with eggs

Internal Anatomy

after removing the thorax…

Close up view under the cephalothorax.

tail dissection

detailed ventral view