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Description
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Photo
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This crayfish was determined to get to some meat upstream even if it meant leaving the water. In New Zealand these crayfish are often called 'crawlies'. However, as you can see, they can hold themselves off the ground so technicially they walk, not crawl. |
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Now he's a little closer to his goal. |
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Food at last! That took a bit of effort, but he got there in the end |
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This cray had quite an adventure. Lured out of his hole by a piece of chicken, he got picked up and photographed (which were all out of focus). After he was put back in the stream, he just sat there. After a few minutes during which he didn't move I thought perhaps I had injured him. When I reached down to check on him - whoosh, he was off with a flick of the tail. |
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Here's the same cray from the above shot. Just as I hit the shutter button he flicked his tail and took off at top speed. Note the swirl of mud in the water kicked up by his powerful tail. Crays don't move fast forward, but they sure have a quick reverse gear. |
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It's the same crayfish yet again. After I put him back in the stream, he didn't seem to know what to do next and stood still for a whole series of photos |
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Here's another pickup. I'm getting better at using this camera, the focus on these closeups is very good |
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This one seems to be missing a leg or two. It's common to seen crays with claws or other limbs gone. Often a small new limb can be seen growing as the limb regenerates. If you think you're smarter than a crayfish, then ask yourself if you can grow a new limb if you lose one |
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Here's a good underside shot. He's got more slots full of grabbers, pincers etc than a swiss army knife! This one did something amazing. When I picked him up, he dropped the piece of chicken meat I had baited him with. They never do that! I gave it back to him before putting him back in the stream. If you hold a crayfish until it calms down before letting it go, it will forget about being picked up and go back to munching the chicken meat. Aren't crayfish nice, they never hold grudges but forgive and forget in a second. |
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Just as I press the shutter button, he flicks his tail and is off with a mighty splash. |
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The stream's getting very low. Even the springs that keep it going have their limits. This cray is determined to check out that chicken meat whatever the water level. |
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Here is another pickup. I've set the camera to 1600 X 1200 resolution, so there is even more detail than usual on this shot. Note how the claws are different sizes. This cray has lost a claw in a fight and is growing it back. |
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Here's the same animal from the underside. No eggs under this tail. I've picked them up with eggs before, but never when I have a camera on me. If this was a pregnant female, the white underside of the tail would be covered in hundreds of little dark eggs. |
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This little guy thinks this rock is just the place for a munch. |
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Sometimes after heavy rain the stream will flood. This crayfish was obviously swept out of the stream by a recent flood and held onto the long grass while the flood passed. Unfortunately instead of going back into the water he has died here. Perhaps he couldn't find his way back to the stream after the flood finished. Perhaps he froze in the cold night air. It was very cold during the storm that caused this. So, it's a shame the little guy has died, but that is part of life here in the stream. |
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