River shrimp
The river prawn (Austropotamobius pallipes complex) is one of the most discreet and valuable inhabitants of our waterways. Brown-olive in color, with the underside of the claws lighter, hence the Latin name pallipes ("light feet"), it has a distinctive appearance: a robust, segmented body, two large front claws, and an abdomen that ends with a wide caudal fan, which allows for rapid backward movements in case of escape. Adults typically reach a length of 8–12 centimeters and move carefully along the gravelly and rocky bottoms of streams.