Crustaceans
99
Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz 1823
Order: Decapoda
Family: Astacidae
Common name: Turkish crayfish,
narrow-clawed crayfish.
Distribution: Throughout Europe, eastern Russia, and the Middle East (Gherardi
and Souty-Grosset, 2010).
Habitat: Fresh and brackish waters;
rivers, lakes, canals, lagoons, estuaries.
Description: This species can grow
up to 30 cm in length. The sides of the
thorax are very rough, usually pale yellow to pale green in color.  It has two
pairs of post-orbital ridges, the second
of which may have spines. It also has a
prominent tubercle (small nodule) on
the shoulder of the carapace. The claws
are long and narrow. Their upper surface is rough and the underside is the
same color as the body. A tubercle can
be found on the fixed side of the claw.
Relatively thinner fingers are seen on
the claws.
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition of Whole Body
Muscle (% WW)
Moisture Protein
Lipid
Ash
68
19.82
6.31
8.78
Source: Data from Noverian et al. (2011).
Proximate Composition in Tail Muscle (%)
Moisture Protein Fat Ash Cholesterol a
78.19
14.61 0.57 1.39
81.51
a mg/100 g.
Fatty Acids in Tail Muscle (% of Total
Fatty Acids)
SFA MUFA PUFA n-3 PUFA n-6 PUFA
25.56 28.17 45.97
32.74
13.23
Fat-Soluble Vitamins in the Tail Muscle
(µg/100 g)
A
D2
D3
E a
K
0.43
0.54
0.26
1.19
0.76
a mg/100 g.
Source: Data from Harlioglue et al. (2012).
Procambarus clarkii Girard 1852