Ringed Crayfish
The ringed crayfish is a native Colorado crustacean.
About This Species
The ringed crayfish makes burrows under rocks in streams and tends to remain there during the day, emerging at night to feed on algae and coarse benthic organic matter. Breeding occurs from late fall to spring, with egg-laying from late spring to early summer. Individuals typically live 2.5 years, but have been known to live up to 5 years.
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Physical Characteristics
The ringed crayfish grows up to 9.7 cm in length at maturity. It is olive in color with a characteristic black stripe down the lateral edge of the abdomen. Specimens often have differently-shaded rings on their carapaces and frequently possess claws with orange tips and wide, jet black bands.
Range
In Colorado and Kansas the ringed crayfish is considered imperiled, but it is considered invasive to New England, California, Oregon, and New York. The ringed crayfish is native to the central United States from Nebraska to Oklahoma and Missouri to Wyoming. This species is found in the Republican River drainage.
Habitat
It lives in small to large permanent streams that have clear water and rocky substrate, but has also been found in riffle and pool habitats that are free of fine sediments.