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Crayfish

Crustaceans

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Crayfish, crawfish, or crawdads are freshwater crustaceans belonging to the infraorder Astacidea, which also contains lobsters, classified within the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. They breathe through feather-like gills and inhabit a wide range of freshwater environments, from running brooks and streams to swamps, ditches and paddy fields; while most species are sensitive to water quality, hardier species such as Procambarus clarkii can tolerate polluted conditions. Crayfish are omnivorous scavengers, feeding on both living and decomposing organic matter.

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