Crawdad vs. Crayfish — What's the Difference?

See crayfish.

Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters (to which they are related). In some parts of the United States, they are also known as crawfish, craydids, crawdaddies, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, mountain lobsters, rock lobsters, mudbugs, or yabbies.

The crayfish.

Any of various freshwater crustaceans of the families Astacidae and Cambaridae of the Northern Hemisphere and the family Parastacidae of the Southern Hemisphere, resembling a lobster but considerably smaller. Also called mudbug; also called regionally crawdad.

Same as crawfish

See spiny lobster.

Tiny lobster-like crustaceans usually boiled briefly

Any of numerous freshwater decapod crustaceans in superfamily Astacoidea or Parastacoidea, resembling the related lobster but usually much smaller.

Small freshwater decapod crustacean that resembles a lobster

A freshwater crustacean (family Cambaridae), sometimes used as an inexpensive seafood or as fish bait.

A rock lobster (family Palinuridae).

(AU) A freshwater crayfish (family Parastacidae), such as the gilgie, marron, or yabby.

(Singapore) The species Thenus orientalis of the slipper lobster family (Scyllaridae).

To catch crayfish

(to backpedal, desert, or withdraw)

See Crawfish.

Warm-water lobsters without claws; those from Australia and South Africa usually marketed as frozen tails; caught also in Florida and California

Tiny lobster-like crustaceans usually boiled briefly

Small freshwater decapod crustacean that resembles a lobster

Large edible marine crustacean having a spiny carapace but lacking the large pincers of true lobsters