White-Clawed Crayfish is one of the invertebrates visitors can discover in the Zoo at Flamingo Land. Its natural range is associated with United Kingdom, Eastern & Southern Europe. Its scientific name is Austropotamobius pallipes.
Diet
White-clawed crayfish are omnivorous scavengers, eating aquatic plants, decaying material and small animals.
Habitat and range
They need clean, well-oxygenated streams and rivers with stones, roots and banks that provide shelter.
Behaviour and adaptations
Mostly active at night, they walk along the riverbed and retreat beneath cover, using claws for feeding and defence.
Conservation
The conservation status recorded for this entry is Endangered. Pollution, habitat damage, invasive crayfish and crayfish plague have caused major declines in Britain and Europe. Conservation classifications can change when new assessments are published.
What to look for
Look for the pale underside of the claws, long antennae and backward tail-flip escape response. Individual animals can choose when to rest, feed or move out of view, so sightings vary through the day. Check the daily programme for keeper talks and current information about the animals in the collection.