Acocil
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Acocil | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cambarellus montezumae
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Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||||
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Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||||
Cambarellus montezumae Saussure, 1857 |
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Cambarellus zempaolensis Villalobos, 1943 |
Acocil is the name for either of two species of freshwater crayfish endemic to Mexico - Cambarellus montezumae and Cambarellus zempoalensis. The former species is widespread in ponds, lakes, lagoons and reservoirs, including, for example, the Guadalupe Victoria dam; the latter is known only from its type locality, the Lagunas de Zempoala in the State of Morelos. They both feed on decaying plants and animals. The name acocil is derived from the Nahuatl word acotzilli. Acocil were an important food source for the ancient Mexicans or Aztecs. Acocil have a yellow, translucent exoskeleton.