Virile Crayfish

Faxonius virilis

The virile crayfish (Faxonius virilis, formerly Orconectes virilis) is a medium-sized freshwater crayfish native to North America. Adults reach 8-13 cm in body length and display a brownish-green body with distinctive blue-tipped claws marked with orange or red spots at the joints. The carapace has a pair of dark saddle marks. They inhabit clear rivers, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs with rocky or gravelly substrates at depths of 0-10 meters, constructing burrows under rocks and logs. They are omnivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, insects, snails, fish eggs, and detritus. They are important members of freshwater ecosystems, serving as both predators of smaller invertebrates and prey for fish, wading birds, and mammals. Males develop enlarged claws during the breeding season. Divers encounter them in clear freshwater sites throughout central and northern North America, where they can be observed foraging on the bottom and defending their shelters with raised-claw displays.