Spinycheek Crayfish is approximately 10 cm long and has spiny cheeks. Often, they have striped abdomens and legs with orange tips. However, sediment may colour them black.
Spinycheek Crayfish live in rivers, lakes and ponds. It prefers calm, turbid water. Additionally, it is resistant to water pollution, colder temperatures, and dry conditions. Spinycheek Crayfish can outcompete native species and alter habitat structure. These impacts on the habitat affect freshwater fish that use the shoreline habitat as nurseries.
This species was likely introduced as live bait or an aquarium species.
10 cm long. Spiny cheeks. Striped abdomens and legs with orange tips.
Spinycheek Crayfish are capable of parthenogenesis, a type of asexual reproduction.
Never dump your aquarium contents into waterbodies. If you are unable to care for your aquarium animals, find a suitable alternative to releasing them into the wild. This could include rehoming or donation, returning the animal to the retailer, or humane euthanasia. If you see any Spinycheek Crayfish in the wild, report it to the NSISC, on iNaturalist, or Fisheries and Oceans Canada.