Astacidae

Family of Astacidea

Food, Animal source foods, Arthropods (Arthropoda), Crustaceans (Crustacea), Decapods (Decapoda), Pleocyemata, Astacidea

Consumption area(s): North America, Europe, and a part of Western Asia

1. White-clawed crayfish/Atlantic stream crayfish, Astacidae
1. White-clawed crayfish/Atlantic stream crayfish

Introduction

Astacidae represent a family of decapod crustaceans primarily inhabiting freshwater environments. They are found in both flowing rivers and still waters, showing a preference for clear, cold streams.

The distribution of Astacidae is disjunct, occurring in two widely separated regions across different continents. One population is located in Europe and the adjacent Western Asia, while another, represented by the genus Pacifastacus, is found in western North America, particularly in the central and southern United States and Mexico.

Description of Astacidae

Astacidae share a general body shape with other crayfish and are often indistinguishable at first glance from members of Cambaridae. Key diagnostic traits include: the presence of two clusters of esthetascs on some segments of the first antennae, a consistent gill formula of 18 functional gills, the absence of a hook on a segment of the pereopod, and a reduced first pair of pleopods in females. Additionally, the male first pleopods, modified into reproductive organs, have a unique shape that distinguishes them from Cambaridae.

Reproduction in Astacidae relies on both chemical cues and visual signals during pre-mating interactions. Unlike Cambaridae, male Astacidae attach an external spermatophore directly to the female’s gonopore (on the third pereopod), with the first two pairs of pleopods guiding precise alignment. Male competition occurs in some species, with conflicts over females, and strategies may include placing a spermatophore over one already present or removing a rival.

Classification of Astacidae

Astacidae are divided into three genera:

  • Astacus (Turkish crayfish)
  • Austropotamobius (White-clawed crayfish/Atlantic stream crayfish)
  • Pacifastacus (North American crayfish)

Source(s):

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astacidae

Photo(s):

1. David Gerke, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons