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Story: Crabs, crayfish and other crustaceans

Crayfish moulting

Crayfish moulting

A crayfish begins to moult when its carapace detaches from its tail section. Then the animal hunches its body up and withdraws its head and legs from the old shell. Later, it wriggles forward and frees its abdomen from the old tail segments.

About this item

Private collection
Photograph by Alison MacDiarmid

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How to cite this page:

Niel Bruce and Alison MacDiarmid. 'Crabs, crayfish and other crustaceans', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 24-Sep-11
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/crabs-crayfish-and-other-crustaceans/1/2