Northern Clearwater Crayfish
The northern clearwater crayfish is a native Colorado crustacean.
About This Species
The average lifespan of the northern clearwater crayfish is 3.5 months, but it has been known to live 4 years. This species excavates burrows, where it takes refuge at night. It is most active during the day, utilizing its sense of vision much more than other related crayfish species to forage for insects, snails, other invertebrates, aquatic plants, and algae.
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Physical Characteristics
The northern Clearwater crayfish is a small species, reaching 16-120 mm in length at maturity. It has a dark band or stripe that runs along the midline of the carapace. The claws are robust and dark reddish in color. Overall dark coloration allows the crayfish to blend into the rocky river bottom.
Range
This species surprised sampling crews when it turned up in the 2010 survey in Monument and North Lakes (about 8,600' elevation) in Las Animas County near the southern border of the state. These deep, rocky lakes are among the headwaters of the Huerfano River sub-drainage of the Arkansas River. The northern clearwater crayfish is native to northern waters from the Great Lakes to Hudson Bay.
Habitat
The northern Clearwater crayfish is found in clear, rocky streams and the rocky shores and riffles of lakes.
Threats to Species
As of 1996, populations of northern Clearwater crayfish have been considered stable. However, the introduction of the rusty crayfish to the Great Lakes region may cause conflict between the two species; because the rusty crayfish and northern Clearwater crayfish are closely related and may hybridize, the genetic continuity of the species may be imperiled in that region.