Paranephrops planifrons
Crayfish are characterized by a joined head and thorax, or midsection, and a segmented body, which is sandy yellow, green, or dark brown in color. The head has a sharp snout, and the eyes are on movable stalks. Crayfish are usually about 3 inches long. Crayfish have a hard outside skeleton. This jointed exoskeleton provides protection and allows movement, but limits growth. As a result, the crayfish regularly gets too big for its skeleton, sheds it, and grows a new larger one.
Crayfish reproduce sexually and are capable of regeneration. Mating occurs in autumn or spring, but females can store the sperm from a past mating until the eggs are fertilized and laid. Females can protect their eggs by carrying them around their tails. In the mating process males place a sperm packet on the underside of the female's belly. She curls up her tail and as she expresses the eggs she passes them through the sperm down on to her tail and attaches them to the swimmerets (this holds the eggs).
Crayfish are characterized by a joined head and thorax, or midsection, and a segmented body, which is sandy yellow, green, or dark brown in color. The head has a sharp snout, and the eyes are on movable stalks. Crayfish are usually about 3 inches long. Crayfish have a hard outside skeleton. This jointed exoskeleton provides protection and allows movement, but limits growth. As a result, the crayfish regularly gets too big for its skeleton, sheds it, and grows a new larger one.
Crayfish reproduce sexually and are capable of regeneration. Mating occurs in autumn or spring, but females can store the sperm from a past mating until the eggs are fertilized and laid. Females can protect their eggs by carrying them around their tails. In the mating process males place a sperm packet on the underside of the female's belly. She curls up her tail and as she expresses the eggs she passes them through the sperm down on to her tail and attaches them to the swimmerets (this holds the eggs).