Do Crayfish Make Noise? Exploring the Sounds of these Aquatic Creatures

With their small size and largely solitary nature, crayfish are not animals many people associate with being vocal But surprisingly, these freshwater crustaceans can indeed produce sounds both in and out of water

While not necessarily “noisy” creatures, understanding the types of noises crayfish make and the reasons behind them provides fascinating insight into their biology and behavior. Let’s take a closer look at how and why these critters make various sounds.

An Overview of Crayfish

Before diving into crayfish acoustics, let’s cover some background. Crayfish, also known as crawfish or crawdads, are a type of small freshwater crustacean resembling mini lobsters.

There are over 500 species found all over the world. They live in freshwater lakes, ponds, streams, rivers and wetlands. Most are nocturnal and shelter among rocks, vegetation and other submerged hiding places in their aquatic habitats during the day.

Crayfish play an important role in food chains as omnivores who consume plants, fish eggs, small insects and anything else they can forage In turn, they are prey for fish, frogs, birds and other wildlife seeking a protein-rich meal

Sounds Crayfish Make Underwater

While crayfish are not especially vocal creatures they do make some sounds underwater by quickly moving their appendages.

The most significant noise-making appendage is the scaphognathite. This is a thin, flap-like structure on the side of a crayfish that enables it to pump water through its gills and allow it to breathe.

When threatened or engaged in agonistic encounters with other crayfish, they rapidly move their scaphognathite appendages. This agitation produces audible clicking or popping sounds underwater, along with bubbles escaping from their gill chambers.

Here is a video example clearly capturing the sounds of a crayfish clicking its scaphognathite in a high stress situation:

As the video demonstrates, the noises sound like high-pitched popping or crackling sounds. Though not loud, the sounds are notable and distinct, especially if directly handling the creature.

Sounds Made Out of Water

Crayfish aren’t just limited to making sounds underwater. They can also produce audible noises when out of water by using specialized structures on their abdomen and claws.

When picked up, crayfish may make a raspy hissing or buzzing sound by quickly contracting and relaxing muscles in their abdomen region. This rapid motion rubs against rigid parts of the crayfish’s exoskeleton, creating a vibrating hiss.

Crayfish can also click their pincers when alarmed or startled out of water. The hard tips of their claws knocking together produces a sharp clicking noise.

Here is a video with audio examples of the raspy buzzing and claw clicking sounds crayfish make when handled:

As you can hear in the video, the sounds are more noticeable out of water than when the crayfish is submerged. So if you catch a crayfish and it starts hissing at you, that’s totally normal!

Reasons Crayfish Make Noise

Clearly crayfish can and do make noises both underwater and out. But why do they produce these sounds?

There are a few speculated reasons:

• Communication – The noises may function as communication between crayfish for mating purposes or establishing social hierarchy.

• Warnings – The sounds could warn other crayfish of danger or signal territorial boundaries.

• Defense – Hissing, clicking claws and other sounds may scare potential predators.

• Stress signals – The involuntary sounds produced when handled may signal fear or stress.

While the exact causes are still being studied, it seems clear the sounds serve an important purpose in crayfish behavior, communication and survival.

Crayfish Noise Fun Facts

Beyond the basics, here are some fascinating facts about noises produced by crayfish:

• Male crayfish click their claws rapidly when mating to attract females.

• Larger crayfish tend to make louder distress sounds than smaller ones.

• Crayfish hiss when threatened but are otherwise typically silent.

• Their hard external skeleton amplifies the sounds out of water.

• Juvenile crayfish make softer, lower frequency sounds than mature adults.

• Noises can be indicators of crayfish fighting or establishing social hierarchies.

The more we learn, the more it’s clear crayfish acoustics are an intriguing area we are just beginning to understand!

While not the loudest or most talkative creatures, crayfish can and do make a variety of sounds both in and out of the water. Using specialized body parts and appendages, they produce clicks, pops, hisses and buzzes for communication, warnings, territoriality and when alarmed. What we interpret as noise is an important part of crayfish’s social interactions and survival. Next time you encounter one, listen closely and you might just hear these freshwater critters speak up!