# Signal crayfish (*Pacifastacus leniusculus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/signal-crayfish  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) is a crustacean in the family Astacidae, listed in the animal subgroup crabs and lobsters. It belongs to the genus Pacifastacus, superfamily Astacoidea, suborder Pleocyemata, order Decapoda and class Malacostraca, within the phylum Arthropoda. The species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List in a global assessment, which is not an IUCN threatened category. Other English names for it are Klamath signal crayfish, American signal crayfish and Columbia river signal crayfish.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Arthropoda
- class: Malacostraca
- order: Decapoda
- family: Astacidae
- genus: Pacifastacus
- species: *Pacifastacus leniusculus* (Dana, 1852)

Synonyms: *Astacus klamathensis*, *Astacus klaymathensis*, *Astacus leniusculus*, *Astacus oreganus*, *Astacus trowbridgii*, *Pacifastacus klamathensis*, *Pacifastacus leniusculus klamathensis*, *Pacifastacus leniusculus leniusculus*, *Pacifastacus leniusculus trowbridgii*, *Pacifastacus trowbridgi*, *Pacifatacus leniusculus*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the signal crayfish?

The signal crayfish is a crustacean in the family Astacidae and the order Decapoda, placed in the animal subgroup crabs and lobsters.

### What is the scientific name of the signal crayfish?

Its scientific name is Pacifastacus leniusculus, in the genus Pacifastacus.

### Is the signal crayfish endangered?

No. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List in a global assessment, which is not an IUCN threatened category.

### Is the signal crayfish extinct?

No. The Catalogue of Life lists the signal crayfish as a living species, not extinct.

### What other names does the signal crayfish have?

It is also called the Klamath signal crayfish, American signal crayfish and Columbia river signal crayfish.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/signal-crayfish