| Macrobrachium carcinus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Caridea |
| Family: | Palaemonidae |
| Genus: | Macrobrachium |
| Species: |
M. carcinus
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| Binomial name | |
| Macrobrachium carcinus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Macrobrachium carcinus is a species of fresh water shrimp known as the big claw river shrimp. It is native to streams, rivers and creeks from Florida to southern Brazil.[1][3] It is the largest known species of Neotropical freshwater prawn, growing up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long and weighing as much as 850 grams (30 oz),[4] although even larger specimens have been reported.[5] It is an important species for commercial fishing in the Sao Francisco River basin, where it is known by the local name of pitu.[6] M. carcinusisomnivorous, with a diet consisting of molluscs, small fish, algae, leaf litter and insects.[7]
Macrobrachium carcinus has a tan or yellow body with dark brown stripes. Its chelae are unusually long and thin, to facilitate foraging for food in small crevices,[7] and may be blue or green in color.[8]
| Macrobrachium carcinus |
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| Cancer carcinus |
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Authority control databases: National  |
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