Αμερικανική καραβίδα
- Language
- Greek
- Transliteration
- Amerikanikí karavída
- IPA
- /amerikaniˈci karaˈviða/
Compound: αμερικανική amerikanikí + καραβίδα karavída αμερικανική: American (feminine), καραβίδα: crayfish ↳ καραβίδα from Ancient Greek καραβίς karabís (crayfish), a diminutive of κάραβος kárabos (lobster, horned beetle) A descriptive designation for the introduced North American species rather than an inherited folk name; Greek Wikipedia gives it in the plural, αμερικανικές καραβίδες amerikanikés karavídes. The qualifier does the work: καραβίδα alone denotes the native crayfish Astacus astacus and, in seafood use, the Norway lobster.
Freshwater crayfish typically 6-9 cm long, reaching 16-20 cm. Smooth carapace, brown to reddish above, with a distinctive white to pale blue-green patch at the hinge of each claw. Native to the Columbia River basin of western North America. Introduced to Europe from 1960 and established in 27 countries by 2009. A largely resistant carrier of crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci), which is fatal to European crayfish.