Crayfish

While adventuring in Augusta Creek in Kellogg Forest I came across many crayfish!!

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/crayfish_%28cambarus%29.htm

Crayfish can be found in basically any body of freshwater including streams, lakes, rivers, and ponds. There are three common genera of crayfish: Cambarus, Orconectes, and Fallicambarus.  The most common is Cambarus.

When turning over big rocks in small streams you will most likely find crayfish.  They are nocturnal animals so they hang out there during the day and do most of their hunting at night.

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1052&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=AaM4U4yKbTfZTM:&imgrefurl=http://www.deepseaimages.com/dsilibrary/showphoto.php%3Fphoto%3D21741%26size%3Dbig&docid=_uANqxAhsLRS3M&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.deepseaimages.com/dsilibrary/data/1746/LC_1133.jpg&w=1000&h=665&ei=PwzYT6z2Gsee2AX05KSrDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=316&vpy=160&dur=624&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=150&ty=123&sig=107563454956571172763&page=1&tbnh=144&tbnw=201&start=0&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:76

They are a type of crustacean so they are closely related to lobsters, shrimp, and crabs.  They have a total of ten legs, but the front two are developed into large claws called chellae.  Crayfish use their chellae for protection, moving or picking up small objects, and catching their prey.

Speaking of prey Crayfish are omnivorous so they feed on plants and animals.  They are scavengers also so they can feed on dead animals as long as they are still somewhat fresh.  The most common food that they eat are worms, insects, insect larvae, and the eggs of different fish, frogs, toads, and salamanders.