What’s in a name? Crayfish, crawfish, or mudbug—and why it matters

Crayfish go by many names across the U. S. , and the labels say a lot about how humans interact with them. Scientists tend to use “crayfish” when studying these crustaceans. Fishermen switch to “crawdad” when using them as bait. But if they’re on a dinner plate, most people call them “crawfish, ” es