Oklahoma Crayfish Species

Crayfish, even those found in the state of Oklahoma, go by many names. You see the freshwater shellfish referred to as "crawdad," "crawfish" and "freshwater lobsters." Nearly 30 types of species live throughout the state of Oklahoma. Most of the documentation recording the various species took place in a study performed by the University of Oklahoma in 2004. The university conducted research on which crayfish species actually existed in the state because previous documentation proved sketchy at best.

  1. About Crayfish

    • Crayfish live, on average, 2 to 3 years and range in size from 2 to 6 inches. Color combinations include red, green, tan, brown and black. Some species sport orange markings or contain distinct features in other shades. Diet plays a part in determining their color. Crawdads grow, as a species, by shedding their outer shell (carapace.) Young crawfish molt once a week while older adults shed their shell a few times per year. New shells take a few days to form, leaving these freshwater lobsters vulnerable to attack. Crawfish live in shallow streams and caves, find muddy water attractive and prefer slow-moving waterways. You can sometimes locate them in ditches with pooling water, lakes and ponds. Oklahoma crawfish habitats include the Little River and Mountain Fork River.

    Crayfish Species

    • At present, 28 species of crayfish exist throughout Oklahoma, with the greatest concentration taking up residence in the eastern side of the state, according to the University of Oklahoma. Among them, Procambarus dupratzi crawfish reside in White Oak, Stevens and Martins Creek in McCurtain County. University scientists first discovered crawdads in Martin County in 2004. The Little River drainage area in streams also contains Procambarus dupratzi.

    New Crayfish Species

    • The University of Oklahoma removed some previously listed species during studies conducted in 2004, while other species were added to the list. New crayfish species added to the species list include Orconectes menae, Orconectes nana and Orconectes saxatilis. Orconectes menae reside in streams containing stones within the Ouachita mountain range. Records of the Orconectes nana show this species to live in Adair, Cherokee and Delaware counties in Oklahoma. Orconectes saxatilis takes up residence in Pigeon Creek.

    Endangered Crayfish

    • Over 50 percent of crayfish within the U.S. are considered as possibly endangered, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, following a study produced by the University of Oklahoma to recount crayfish within the state. Oklahoma's endangered crawfish, the Oklahoma cave crayfish (Cambarus tartarus), lives in streams, pools (near the aquifer) and within a few caves. Coloration of this crayfish: white with little to no standout shades of color. The crawdad sports a thin body, legs and pincers and lives in in the southern Delaware county. The limited range where the Oklahoma cave crayfish lives provides part of the reason as to why it is considered endangered.