Astacus

/əˈsteɪkəs/ noun

Definition

A genus of large freshwater crayfish native to Europe, commonly known as the noble crayfish or European crayfish.

Etymology

From Latin 'astacus,' borrowed from Greek 'astakos' (crayfish). The Romans used this term to describe the crustaceans they caught in European rivers.

Kelly Says

European crayfish used to be so abundant they were eaten by peasants and prisoners, but they've nearly vanished due to a plague-like fungal disease that arrived in the 1800s from American species.

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