Acocil

Acocil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Suborder:	Pleocyemata
Infraorder:	Astacidea
Superfamily:	Astacoidea
Family:	Cambaridae
Genus:	Cambarellus
Species:	C. montezumae & C. zempoalensis
Binomial name
Cambarellus montezumae Saussure, 1857
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.