INFRAORDER ASTACIDEA (CRAYFISH AND TRUE LOBSTERS)
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
(Order Decapoda)

by
Aaron Baldwin

This infraorder is represented in British Columbia by a single native species, Pacifastacus leniusculus, with three subspecies.  These are restricted to freshwater ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams. The American lobster, Homarus americanus, has apparently established a viable population in British Columbia (Lamb and Hanby, 2005). This is reportedly due to the releasing of live lobsters 'rescued' from fish markets and restaurants. Both crayfish and lobsters are omnivores, feeding on nearly anything they encounter.

The crayfishes found in British Columbia belong to a small family that includes Pacifastacus as well as the native European crayfish, Astacus. These differ from the Cambaridae, such as the invasive Procambarus clarkii. I could find no records for Procambarus in British Columbia, although it has been found in Alaska as well as Washington State.