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. carcinus is omnivorous, 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]

References

  1. ^ a b De Grave, S. (2013). "Macrobrachium carcinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T198003A2508328. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T198003A2508328.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Charles Fransen (2012). "Macrobrachium carcinus (Linnaeus, 1758)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Macrobrachium carcinus Bigclaw River Shrimp". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  4. ^ Methil Narayanan Kutty & Wagner C. Valenti (2009). "Culture of other freshwater prawn species". In Michael Bernard New; Wagner Cotroni Valenti; James H. Tidwell; Louis R. D'Abramo & Methil Narayanan Kutty (eds.). Freshwater Prawns: Biology and Farming. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 502–523. ISBN 978-1-4051-4861-0.
  5. ^ "Field & Stream". Field & Stream 2007-08: 78. June 1998. ISSN 8755-8599. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  6. ^ Joachim Carolsfeld (1 November 2003). Migratory Fishes of South America: Biology, Fisheries and Conservation Status. IDRC. p. 218. ISBN 978-0-9683958-2-0. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  7. ^ a b Douglas P. Reagan (1 September 1996). The Food Web of a Tropical Rain Forest. University of Chicago Press. p. 452. ISBN 978-0-226-70599-6. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  8. ^ Jerry G. Walls (1 April 2009). Crawfishes of Louisiana. LSU Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-8071-3409-2. Retrieved 1 June 2012.


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