Crayfish Anatomy

2. The exoskeleton covering the fused head and thorax region.
7. External structures and a part of the animals’ respiratory tract. Gills allow exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide directly between the animal and water.
9. The tail is made up of the central telson and outer uropods which aid the animal in swimming and movement. When threatened, the crayfish propels itself backward quickly with strong flips of the telson, located at the tip of the abdomen.
10. Also called pleopods, these are thin leg-like structures used to swim, move water over the gills and hold eggs and larva.
11. Male yabbies have protruding genital papillae at the base of their fourth set of walking legs and females have oviducts at the base of their second pair of walking legs.
13. The mouth structure used to grind food. It is surrounded by structures called maxillipeds which push food into the mouth.

1. The legs used for walking, food gathering and moving water over gills. There are four sets of walking legs.
3. The hard external encasement providing the animal with protection and a place for muscles to attach.
4. The large anterior claws used for grasping food, fighting and movement.
5. The abdomen made up of strong muscles which aid in movement. It is the part consumed by humans.
6. The short thin anterior structure used to taste food.
8. The long thin anterior structures used to touch and taste food and maintain balance.
12. The region between the head and abdomen (in humans it is the chest area). It contains the organs for the respiratory, circulation, digestive and nervous systems.