89
Cherax quadricarinatus (Von Martens, 1868)
C. quadricarinatus is an Australian freshwater crayfish. C. quadricarinatus is an
aquatic crayfish, naturally distributed in a wide variety of habitats in its native range
of distribution (Queensland and Northern Territory in Australia and south-eastern
Papua New Guinea). Due to the harsh physical conditions it has adapted to in its
native range, C. quadricarinatus has a robust nature with broad tolerances to environmental extremes. Such environmental tolerance, combined with its rapid growth
rate and relatively large dimensions, makes it an ideal species for aquaculture and
aquarium trade. From Australia, the species has been exported to many other countries with subtropical to tropical climates where commercial production has been
attempted (Cabi 2019c).
Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817)
O. limosus is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is native to the east
coast of North America, from Maine to the lower James River, Virginia, but has also
been introduced to Europe. It is known commonly as the spiny cheek crayfish. It is
unusual in that it lives in silty streams, rather than the clear water usually preferred
by crayfish. Like Pacifastacus leniusculus, another invasive North American crayfish, O. limosus carries crayfish plague and is a threat to native European crayfish.
They prefer flat, sandy, and rocky floors. They are also found outside the water on
beaches or lawns near the pool of water. They use rocks to make burrows while in
the water. This is a very common species of cray, especially on Northeast United
States, and Southeast Canada (Wikipedia 2019c).
Procambarus clarkia (Girard 1852)
Procambarus clarkii is a species of cambarid freshwater crayfish, native to northern
Mexico, and southern and south-eastern United States, but also introduced elsewhere (both in North America and other continents), where it is often an invasive
pest. It is known variously as the red swamp crawfish, red swamp crayfish, Louisiana
crawfish, Louisiana crayfish or mudbug Procambarus clarkii was originally distributed from northern Mexico to Florida, and north to southern Illinois and Ohio. It has
been widely introduced in the USA, south and Central America, Europe, and other
more dispersed areas such as Japan, China, and Taiwan. P. clarkii is most found in
warm fresh water, such as slowly flowing rivers, marshes, reservoirs, irrigation systems and rice paddies. It is the most ecologically plastic species in the order
Decapoda and is able to grow quickly even in only seasonally present water, being
able to tolerate dry spells of up to 4 months (Wikipedia 2019d).
In the following sub-headings of this chapter, the term “lobster” will be used in
both marine and freshwater lobsters. However, they will be expressed separately
when it is necessary in the text.
Production and Trade of Lobsters
Lobster production in the world is 231,968 tons in 2013 and 304,806 tons in 2016.
More than half of this production is provided by USA and Canada. The following
countries are Indonesia, Australia, and Brazil (FAO 2015). Canada is the world’s
2.3 Lobsters
Cherax quadricarinatus (Von Martens, 1868)
C. quadricarinatus is an Australian freshwater crayfish. C. quadricarinatus is an
aquatic crayfish, naturally distributed in a wide variety of habitats in its native range
of distribution (Queensland and Northern Territory in Australia and south-eastern
Papua New Guinea). Due to the harsh physical conditions it has adapted to in its
native range, C. quadricarinatus has a robust nature with broad tolerances to environmental extremes. Such environmental tolerance, combined with its rapid growth
rate and relatively large dimensions, makes it an ideal species for aquaculture and
aquarium trade. From Australia, the species has been exported to many other countries with subtropical to tropical climates where commercial production has been
attempted (Cabi 2019c).
Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817)
O. limosus is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is native to the east
coast of North America, from Maine to the lower James River, Virginia, but has also
been introduced to Europe. It is known commonly as the spiny cheek crayfish. It is
unusual in that it lives in silty streams, rather than the clear water usually preferred
by crayfish. Like Pacifastacus leniusculus, another invasive North American crayfish, O. limosus carries crayfish plague and is a threat to native European crayfish.
They prefer flat, sandy, and rocky floors. They are also found outside the water on
beaches or lawns near the pool of water. They use rocks to make burrows while in
the water. This is a very common species of cray, especially on Northeast United
States, and Southeast Canada (Wikipedia 2019c).
Procambarus clarkia (Girard 1852)
Procambarus clarkii is a species of cambarid freshwater crayfish, native to northern
Mexico, and southern and south-eastern United States, but also introduced elsewhere (both in North America and other continents), where it is often an invasive
pest. It is known variously as the red swamp crawfish, red swamp crayfish, Louisiana
crawfish, Louisiana crayfish or mudbug Procambarus clarkii was originally distributed from northern Mexico to Florida, and north to southern Illinois and Ohio. It has
been widely introduced in the USA, south and Central America, Europe, and other
more dispersed areas such as Japan, China, and Taiwan. P. clarkii is most found in
warm fresh water, such as slowly flowing rivers, marshes, reservoirs, irrigation systems and rice paddies. It is the most ecologically plastic species in the order
Decapoda and is able to grow quickly even in only seasonally present water, being
able to tolerate dry spells of up to 4 months (Wikipedia 2019d).
In the following sub-headings of this chapter, the term “lobster” will be used in
both marine and freshwater lobsters. However, they will be expressed separately
when it is necessary in the text.
Production and Trade of Lobsters
Lobster production in the world is 231,968 tons in 2013 and 304,806 tons in 2016.
More than half of this production is provided by USA and Canada. The following
countries are Indonesia, Australia, and Brazil (FAO 2015). Canada is the world’s
2.3 Lobsters