Introducing 'Prickles' the Spinycheek Crayfish!
Be careful of this crayfish! Like the name says, it really does have small spines on the side of its shell. This crayfish is from freshwater lakes and streams in the northern United States and has invaded more than 20 countries in Europe.
In Canada it can now be found in areas of New Brunswick, Quebec ... and Cape Breton! That's right: the first and only known introduction of the spinycheek crayfish in Nova Scotia is actually in Freshwater Lake, in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park!
In Europe this alien invader has been competing with local species, and is a known carrier of a water mold known as "crayfish plague". The crayfish has been known to affect aquatic plants, insects, snails, and fish. In Freshwater Lake there is already a concern for valve snails that call this water home.
With its ability to survive in harsh conditions and even move across land for shore periods of time, the spinycheek crayfish is a threat to other bodies of water in Nova Scotia.
How would we describe Prickles the Spinycheek Crayfish?
- Mottled green to brown in colour, sometimes appearing black (due to living in burrows amongst sediment)
- May have red markings on its belly and claws
- Average size: 25-35 mm shell length; maximum size: 50-54 mm shell length
- Has small spines on the ‘cheeks’ or side of the shell
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