Louisiana State Crustacean

Crawfish

(Procambarus clarkii)

Adopted in 1983

The crawfish was adopted as State Crustacean in 1983. Crawfish have long been an inherent part of Louisiana culture. Abundant in the swamps and marshes across south Louisiana, crawfish were a favorite food of early residents.

Louisiana State Crustacean: Crawfish

South Louisiana is the crawfish capital of the world, supporting a multimillion dollar a year industry. The crawfish in appearance greatly resembles the lobster, but is very much smaller. Its color varies with the water in which it lives and its variety.

Although it is found in swamps and marshes throughout the state, the best wild populations occur in the overflow basins of the Atchafalaya, Red, and Pearl Rivers. Crawfish farms have also been established where the crustaceans are cultivated for local use and for export to other states.

Louisiana Law

The law designating the crawfish as the official Louisiana state crustacean is found in the Louisiana Statutes, Title 49, Section RS 49:168

TITLE 49 - State administration
RS 49:168 - State crustacean

Universal Citation: LA Rev Stat § 49:168

§168. State crustacean

There shall be an official state crustacean. The official state crustacean shall be the crawfish. Its use on official documents of the state and with the insignia of the state is hereby authorized.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 572, §1.

Taxonomic Hierarchy: Crawfish

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
    Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Cambaridae
Genus: Procambarus
    Subgenus: Scapulicambarus
Species: P. clarkii