Crayfish vs Crawfish | What’s the Difference?

Crayfish and crawfish are different names for the same animal—freshwater crustaceans that resemble and are related to lobsters.

The term used depends on the region: “crawfish” is more common in the southeastern United States, while “crayfish” is preferred in the north and northeast. Some other areas, like North Carolina and Oregon, use a third term: crawdads.

Examples: Crayfish, crawfish, or crawdad in a sentence
My grandmother taught me to cook a delicious crayfish/crawfish/crawdad stew.

I work for a company that catches crayfish/crawfish/crawdads and sells them to restaurants.

In my science quiz, I got one question wrong because I confused lobsters with crayfish/crawfish/crawdads.

Crayfish or crawfish or crawdads

“Crayfish,” “crawfish,” and “crawdad” refer to the same animal: crustaceans that live in streams, rivers, swamps, ditches, and paddy fields, depending on the specific species.

Different regions in the United States use different names for this animal, although there can be substantial overlap. “Crayfish” is more popular in the north, in places like New England, while “crawfish” is preferred in Louisiana and other southern parts of the country. Additionally, some areas use the terms “crawdads” and “mudbugs.”

Other places in the world have their own names for these creatures. For example, in France, they are called “écrevisse” (from which the term “crayfish” is derived), and in Australia, they are known as “yabbies.”

It should be noted that “crayfish” and “crawfish” function as the singular and plural forms of these nouns. Although “crayfishes” and “crawfishes” are sometimes used as plural forms, they are much less common. Conversely, “crawdad” is used as the singular form and “crawdads” as the plural.

Examples: Crayfish vs crawfish vs crawdad in a sentence
We went down to the stream to find as many crayfish as we could.

I wanted more but was only able to catch one single crayfish.

Frankie ordered a plate of crawfish almost as soon as we arrived in New Orleans.

My daughter thought she saw a lobster in the pond, but I told her it was a crawfish.

He bought several pounds of crawdads to make a large stew for the family gathering.

Crayfish vs lobster

Crayfish (also known as “crawfish” and “crawdads”) and lobsters are both aquatic arthropods that belong to the same infraorder (“Astacidea”), but they are different animals. Lobsters are saltwater creatures that live in the ocean and tend to be larger, while crayfish live in freshwater and are usually smaller.

However, it should be noted that in some areas, “crayfish” are sometimes colloquially referred to as “lobsters.”

Examples: Crayfish vs lobster in a sentence
We went to a seafood restaurant that served many crayfish and lobster entrées.

In culinary school, we learned specific techniques to cook crayfish.

While out on the boat in the ocean, we dove into the water and caught numerous lobsters.

Frequently asked questions about crayfish vs crawfish

Is it crawfish or crawdad?

Crawfish” and “crawdad” both refer to the same animal—crustaceans that look like and are related to lobsters but are found in rivers, streams, swamps, and other bodies of freshwater.

Although there is a lot of overlap, the term “crawfish” is more popular in the southern parts of the United States, while “crawdad” is preferred in specific areas, such as North Carolina and Oregon.

Are lobsters and crawfish the same?

No, lobsters and crawfish are not the same animal, but they are closely related. Lobsters are arthropods that live in saltwater, while crawfish live in freshwater.

What are mudbugs?

“Mudbugs” is a colloquial term used in certain parts of the United States when referring to crawfish, which are crustaceans that are related to lobsters but live in freshwater.

Is this article helpful?
Gina Rancaño, BA

Gina holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, as well as a certificate in professional and public writing from Florida International University. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading.