9 Amazing Fish Similar To Crayfish (With Photos)

Small freshwater crustaceans called crayfish are frequently utilized in southern American cuisine. Their bodies are segmented, with two major portions, and they are frequently reddish or brown in color.

There are numerous names for fishes that similar to crayfish depending on the area. These consist of freshwater lobsters as well as crawdaddies, craydids, and crawfish.

Even if the last one is the most unusual, there’s a good rationale behind it.

Both crayfish and other crustaceans have many similarities with lobsters. They belong to the more than 15,000 diverse kinds of animals that make up the Decapod order.

See the list below to find out more about 9 other animals that similar to crayfish.

1. California Spiny Lobster

Scientific name: Panulirus interruptus
Similarity: Physically, crayfish and spiny lobsters are similar, even though they belong to distinct orders.

“True” lobsters are members of the infraorder Astacidea, which also includes crayfish. The claws of these real lobsters are absent from spry lobsters. They are still, however, just one taxonomic step off from crayfish.

The two have similar body shapes and active times and belong to the Pleocyemata suborder. They both feature many pairs of legs for walking and swimming, as well as multisegmented bodies.

Both creatures are nocturnal, which means that nighttime is when they are most active. Moreover, the gill anatomy of spiny lobsters, similar to crayfish is identical. This sets them apart from the Dendrobranchiata suborder of crustaceans.

Pleocyemates have flat plates under their exoskeletons in place of “tree-like” gills.

2. Cherry Shrimp

Scientific name: Neocaridina davidi
Similarity: Both crayfish and cherry shrimp are tiny, reddish animals found in watery environments.

Though different crustaceans, cherry shrimp and crayfish have a striking resemblance in appearance. Both of them are tiny, with an average length of 10 to 150 mm, or less than an inch to slightly under six inches.

In the wild, they also have red shells, a hue that is less common in shrimp than in crayfish. They resemble crayfish more than most other species because of this.

While most crayfish prefer fresh water, shrimp may survive in both fresh and saltwater. Similar to crayfish, cherry shrimp specifically favor freshwater.

3. Chinese Mitten Crab

Scientific name: Eriocheir sinensis
Similarity: Similar to crayfish, this crab is a major food source in Singapore and it lives in freshwater.

This crab first appears to be extremely different from a crayfish due to its spherical form and furry claws. There are certain commonalities, though. Crayfish and Chinese mitten crabs are both types of aquatic seafood.

These crustaceans, often called hairy crabs, are susceptible to saltwater in their early stages of life. When they get older, they go to freshwater.

Furthermore, one of Singapore’s favorite seasonal foods is hairy crabs. In that region, genuine crayfish as well as certain related crustaceans are highly sought-after.

4. Coconut Crab

Scientific name: Birgus latro
Similarity: A hermit crab big enough to rival a large crayfish in size and lifespan.

Crayfish are often incredibly little fish, growing to a maximum length of only 7 inches.

However, one species—the Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish—can grow to a maximum length of 16 inches (120 mm). Moreover being one of the biggest fish that similar to crayfish, it is also the biggest known aquatic vertebrate.

The longest known example of this crayfish, which may survive for extremely long periods, was sixty years old. The coconut crab is another type of crustacean that is comparable in size and age to this crayfish.

These giant hermit crabs, which may grow to be over three feet (one meter) broad, can live to be 70 years old. In addition, they set records for their size. The largest arthropods on land in the world are coconut crabs.

5. Flathead Lobster

Scientific name: Thenus orientalis
Similarity: a “walking” crab that, in certain parts of the world, goes by the same name as crayfish.

Flathead lobsters are one type of slipper lobster. Since they don’t have the distinctive front claws, these aren’t “true” lobsters. They still belong to Pleocyemata, which makes them similar to crayfish in several ways.

In Singapore, strangely enough, these lobsters are still interchangeable with crayfish. Both of those species are referred to as “crayfish” in that region.

True crayfish and flathead lobsters are also well-liked ingredients in Singaporean cooking. The American South likewise experiences this with crawfish.

Sea also:13 Amazing Fish Similar With Herring(with photos)

6. Gray Hermit Crab

Scientific name: Pagurus pollicaris
Similarity: The two crustaceans have the same method of egg laying and belong to the suborder Pleocyemata.

Hermit crabs and crayfish might not look similar at first. In the Pleocyemata suborder, however, they are extremely close relatives. Each segmented pleocyemate has an egg that is fertilized and incubated by the female.

Additionally, they are “crawling” or “walking” decapods. This indicates that swimming is not their main way of transportation.

Similar to crayfish swimming legs are still present in hermit crabs; they hang behind their tails. Until they are ready to hatch, their fertilized eggs remain in this location.

Their front part of the body contains the pereiopods, or walking legs. These serve as their primary means of transportation.

7. Maine Lobster

Scientific name: Homarus americanus
Similarity: Crayfish resemble little lobsters in appearance, however they lack the big claws and are red in color.

The Maine lobster, a member of Pleocyemata, is a well-known ingredient in New England cooking. This is comparable to the revered status of crayfish in southern cooking, particularly Cajun.

Moreover, the elongated body form of American and Maine lobsters is the same. They also have bodies made up of precisely twenty pieces. The pereiopods, or walking legs, are located on the front of them.

Some of the closest relatives of fishes  that similar to crayfish are true lobsters, like this one, that have claws. Within the Pleocyemata suborder, both creatures are members of the infraorder Astacidea.

8. Norway Lobster

Scientific name: Nephrops norvegicus
Similarity: Compared to other lobsters, this one is smaller and has a similar shell molt.

The Norway lobster, also referred to as langoustine or scampi, is substantially smaller than a typical Maine lobster. Their typical length is only 10 inches (25 cm), which isn’t that much longer than the 6.9-inch (17.5 cm) crayfish.

Similar to Crayfish and Norway lobsters must molt in order to grow because of their exoskeletons. Molting is the process by which an outermost layer of protection sheds and a new one grows in its place.

Even crayfish and Norway lobsters are regenerable. They are capable of growing new limbs to replace lost or injured ones.

9. Ohio River Shrimp

Scientific name: Macrobrachium ohione
Similarity: Similar to crayfish, this kind of shrimp inhabits freshwater rivers and has two pairs of antennae.

While many species of shrimp inhabit the ocean, some are freshwater specialists. One of these species—though the Ohio River is no longer home to many—is the Ohio River shrimp.

In certain places, pollution and dams are to blame for the population fall of this shrimp. But it’s still plentiful in Louisiana, where crawfish are also widely available.

Lastly, two pairs of antennae are located on the front of the heads of animals that similar to crayfish and Ohio river shrimp. There’s never two pairs the same length. These antennae are very perceptive to touch, vibrations, and scents.

Conclusion

Numerous crustaceans share striking similarities, particularly when it comes to their taxonomy. At times, their size serves as the only distinguishing factor.

One kind of crustacean that shares many characteristics with other types is the animals that similar to crayfish. They resemble shrimp, lobsters, and even hermit crabs in appearance because they have segmented bodies, which are a feature shared by all Decapods.

Additionally, they are comparable in terms of their ability to molt, lay eggs, and have distinct walking legs.

To put it briefly, fishes similar to crayfish can resemble a number of the creatures on this list. They might have some habits in common even when they don’t look alike.

See what characteristics crayfish share with other crustaceans worldwide by using this list.