I thought I'd look up the latin name and mention it here.
Then I found out that there are 83 different kinds in Alabama.
So I said, "Forget that."
Because they all look more or less exactly alike.
OK well not really, but almost.
And I am not that dedicated.
Not enough to plow through a lengthy key.
Especially when the subject in question slipped away after only a couple of blurry, non-diagnostic photos.
Ready?
Arr!
Check out that right claw.
I got really tickled reading the common names of some of the Crayfish of Alabama.
First of all, nobody here really calls them that. It's crawdads to you, bub. Even crawfish suggests that you're just putting on airs.
There are a few normal, descriptive names:
Bigclaw Crayfish
Boxclaw Crayfish
Twospot Crayfish
But several of them sound awfully sinister:
Phantom Cave Crayfish
Devil Crawfish
Rusty Grave Digger (Ooh!)
And some are considerably more evocative than you'd expect, for crawdads:
Lavender Burrowing Crayfish (Really? Lavender?)
Cajun Dwarf Crayfish (Napoleon complex)
Depression Crayfish (The Sad Sack of Crayfish)
Lagniappe Crayfish (With free gift!)
Ambiguous Crayfish (Maybe I'm a crayfish, maybe not)
Ditch Fencing Crayfish (Tiny épées at 20 watery paces!)
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