A top view of this crayfish to see the areolar width would help more for a specific name. From what I can see it looks like a 'Big Water Crayfish' (aka Cambarus robustus) common in OH or it could be the Little Brown Mudbug (Cambarus thomai) also common in OH which tends to make burrows more than the Big Water crayfish.
Big Water Crayfish: It prefers to burrow under large rocks, usually flat and about 10 to 15cm. thick. Generally the bigger the rock the bigger the crayfish.
Little Brown Mudbug -Cambarus (Tubericambarus) thomai. This is a recently described species associated with the Appalachian foothills. It is found in eastern Ohio, western West Virginia and northern Kentucky adjacent to the Ohio-W.Va. populations. It burrows extensively and quite deep if need be. Burrows are complex with a lower chamber. I have frequently watched this species sit in wait at its burrow entrance waiting for prey. When a bug or fly passes the entrance they lung out waving their chelae in an effort to capture the potential meal. It also appears that they will eat any plant roots that grow into the burrow. They do not drag vegetation into their burrow. In the spring, after warm rains, they come out of their burrows and can be found walking on land in streams and swamps. I like to got out at night with a flashlight and hunt for them.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 03/28/15 10:49 AM.
