Faxonius virilis is a species of crayfish known as the virile crayfish, northern crayfish,eastern crayfish, and lesser known as the lake crayfishorcommon crawfish. Faxonius virilis was reclassified in August 2017, and the genus was changed from OrconectestoFaxonius.[4] It is native to the central United States, east to tributaries of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River in New York[5] and to much of Canada.[1][2]
Faxonius virilis can be found under stones and logs in lakes, streams, and wetlands, where they hide from predators, such as fish. They are identified by the brown of rust-red carapace and large chelipeds, which are usually blue in colour. Faxonius virilis feeds on a wide range of plants and invertebrates, as well as tadpoles and even small fish.
In Europe, Faxonius virilis is included since 2016 in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list).[7] This implies that this species cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union.[8]
^Durland Donahou, A. (24 July 2019) [Peer reviewed on 13 November 2017]. "Faxonius virilis (Hagen, 1870)". Nonindigenous Aquatic Species. Gainesville, Florida: U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
