Biology

This crayfish tends to be nocturnal, emerging at night to feed on a broad diet consisting of detritus, animal matter and plants. It also occasionally indulges in cannibalism, particularly on individuals with soft cuticles following their moult (2). Mating takes place in autumn; the eggs develop whilst attached to the mother's abdomen, and the female overwinters with the eggs still attached to her. After the eggs hatch, the juveniles remain attached to the mother before becoming independent at the beginning of summer. During the first year of life, juveniles may moult more than 7 times. After they reach maturity, however, there tends to be an annual moult (2).