Crayfish, Crawfish, Crawdad: The Biology and Conservation of North America's Favorite Crustaceans

by Zackary A. Graham

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

232 pages, Paperback

Published January 6, 2026

Reviews

[Denise Ruttan]

First off, I felt the clever title was somewhat misleading, as it made it seem like this book would be about a sociological and cultural history of the impact of crayfish. Instead it was a biological survey of the 700 species of this quite amazing but little understood invertebrate.

I also felt this book was geared more for a school-age audience, as it was a bit condescending at times towards adults with a basic understanding of scientific principles; explaining what a scientific name was as if the reader was a complete layman who had never paid attention to any science classes, for example. The broad-ranging survey aspect could get annoying in that way.

However, overall I enjoyed this because the author's nerdy enthusiasm for crayfish and their conservation really shone through these pages and won me over. It moves between sections describing various aspects of the morphology and ecology of crayfish, punctuated by scenes of color describing the author's collecting trips plunging for these invertebrates in unlikely burrows.

I learned a lot about crayfish and their importance as a keystone species in these pages, and hope to read more nonfiction about science and biology in the coming year. This author shows a lot of promise as a science communicator, the kind of ambassador an endangered species needs. I also enjoyed the interviews with other crayfish biologists and learning more about the efforts at conservation and study of a creature that's not as glamorous as fish and mammals. The naming conventions were only really a small part of the book and I wish I could have learned a little more about that.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lexington Smith]

This book wasn’t a perfect comprehensive guide, but its success as a piece of accessible and important education on a little-known field is amazing and so commendable. As the other reviews have said, Graham’s writing provides a fun introduction to astacology and the way its study can tell us more about ecology, and about our modern conservation crisis on a broader scale. I really enjoyed reading this as someone who loves crayfish already, but I think everyone would like this book.

[the shrew]

Well-done popularization of crayfish research. Even though I grew up seeing these creatures and handling and eating them in crawfish boils, I learned something fascinating about them in every chapter. Against early evolution proponent Thomas Huxley who identified crayfish as "one of the commonest and most insignificant of animals," Graham demonstrates the unique and critical role that crayfish occupy in their various ecosystems. Through these crustaceans Graham further keeps the audience abreast of the cutting edge of conservation discourse. The print version contains many lovely pictures of these animals, especially species that are particularly colorful and strikingly-patterned.

As well-known "bottom-feeders" crayfish will eat everything, especially calorie-rich microbe-covered plant detritus, yet they are also consumed by many larger aquatic and riparian organisms. This places them in an important nexus in food chains. Their burrows also provide shelter for a host of other organisms similar to how beaver dams create habitat for many other animals.

I had never really put together either how the cloistered nature of burrowing crayfish can lead to certain forms of coloniality like ants or bees, adding another dimension of complexity to these assumed low-brow bugs. Graham's specific research in crayfish aggression--basically watching crayfish go WorldStar on each other for hours--also proves a significant level of calculation and diplomacy in their altercations. Crayfish don't mindlessly tear at each other but rather slowly and methodically de-escalate and only rarely all-out brawl.

It is apparent that Graham appreciates Ed Yong's An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us detailing the varieties of animal sensation and dedicates a whole chapter to the crayfish's sense-world. Besides their multiple facial antennae, crayfish have the equivalent of small whiskers over their whole body that can detect both the movement of water and chemical smells. These facilitate motion detection and communication in murky conditions.

The wildest bit of info in this book is the outbreak of a mutant asexual cloning species of crayfish that likely escaped from hobbyist breeding in Germany and now threatens to invade and overtake native crayfish species globally. Crayfish also succumb to pharmaceutical contamination in waterways in one proven sense that exposure to antidepressants can make them less risk-averse and more susceptible to predation.

[C.Z. Munu]

This was an engaging and informative biological survey of over 700 species of crayfish—an incredible yet often overlooked group of invertebrates. I came away with a much greater appreciation for both the animals themselves and the important ecological roles they play.

One thing I appreciated about this book was its accessibility. At times, the explanations felt geared toward readers with very little scientific background, covering concepts that some may already be familiar with (such as scientific names and basic biological principles). However, as someone who has a bit of a science background but hasn't studied it in years, I found this approach helpful rather than repetitive. The book struck a nice balance between being educational and approachable without ever feeling overwhelming.

What really made this book stand out, though, was Zackary Graham's genuine enthusiasm for crayfish and their conservation. His passion is infectious. The more technical sections on crayfish morphology, ecology, and biology are interspersed with personal stories from his fieldwork, recounting collecting trips and searching for crayfish in unexpected places. These moments added personality to the book and made it feel much more engaging than a traditional scientific survey.

I also enjoyed the interviews with fellow crayfish biologists and learning about the ongoing conservation efforts surrounding these fascinating animals. Crayfish may not receive the same attention as mammals or fish, but this book makes a compelling case for why they deserve our interest and protection.

Overall, I learned a great deal about crayfish, their importance as a keystone species, and the challenges they face. This was an excellent introduction to an underappreciated subject, and it has inspired me to pick up more science and biology nonfiction in the future. Zackary Graham has all the qualities of an engaging science communicator, and his enthusiasm makes him a wonderful ambassador for a species that could certainly use one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Mason Neil]

I've loved crawdads (as I grew up calling them) since I first found one at four years old in a stream near my North Carolina home, and I still love finding them in the rivers where I live now in eastern Washington. This is a great introduction to the biology and diversity of crayfish, and deepened my appreciation and understanding of these unassuming critters. The writing is easy to follow, balances curious hope with honest clarity, and is approachable for anyone without a research or science background. What I loved most was the usage of crayfish as a jumping off point for exploring ecosystem biology and environmental conservation, particularly the concept of biomagnification. Similarly, the exploration of a creature's umwelt was particularly enjoyable.

Though not as broad or interconnected as some of the best cases are, this is still good science writing and I think Graham has a promising future in the field. I feel inspired to plan some children's educational programs about Signal Crayfish, our local species here in Spokane, for our summer reading programs in 2026. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!

[James Biser]

This book is a fine exploration of crayfish and the life these freshwater crustaceans make for themselves. As a personal note, the only complaint is the fact that discussion of the dietary consumption of these animals is not much included. It is still a fine book.

[Sophia Beffert]

So much interesting and fantastic information