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Crayfish
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By John Ash
Published 2023
Depending on the region of the United States you’re in, you’ll hear them called crawfish, crayfish, mudbugs, yabbies, and crawdads. They are all the same freshwater crustacean. Crayfish look like very small lobsters, which they are closely related to, and are usually prepared steamed or boiled.
Crayfish, which can be found globally in rivers, lakes, and swamps, are freshwater crustaceans similar in flavor to lobster and shrimp. While 95 percent of the crayfish eaten in the United States are caught in Louisiana, there are over 500 species of crayfish worldwide and over half of them are native to North America. Out of the 330 kinds of crayfish found in the United States, the most commonly consumed are red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crayfish (Procambarus acutus)—they have nearly identical flavors and can be used interchangeably.