my creek find

[ymolina]

i just got back from the creek with 4 new crawdads an i noticed that 1 of them has red tips to his claws. ive been around crawdads for along time "15 years" an i never seen these kind in this area. wat kind do i have in my tank?

 

[Noto]

What part of Illinois? Did he just have red "matchheads" at the claw tips or a large red area at the tip?

There are quite a few species with red-tipped claws. Devil crayfish (Cambarus diogenes) and virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis) are two common species that sometimes have red-tipped claws.

 

[ymolina]

im in effingham bout 100 miles east of stl. its just the very tips of the claws.

 

[Noto]

I'd guess it's an Orconectes species. If you can get some photos up that'd be great. A whole body shot, close up of claws, and close up of gonopods (at junction of tail with main body) would be helpful.