Story: Crabs, crayfish and other crustaceans

Miniature crayfish

Miniature crayfish

After months drifting about in ocean currents, crayfish larvae transform into a puerulus phase, which resembles a miniature transparent crayfish. Fuelled by fat stored in their bodies, thumb-sized pueruli swim back to the coast and undergo a further metamorphosis into juvenile crayfish. Four pueruli are shown here in a glass Petri dish.

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NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

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How to cite this page:

Niel Bruce and Alison MacDiarmid, 'Crabs, crayfish and other crustaceans - Crayfish', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8237/miniature-crayfish (accessed 8 May 2024)

Story by Niel Bruce and Alison MacDiarmid, published 12 Jun 2006