How do crayfish breathe?

According to the Australian Museum, crayfish breathe through their gills. Their feather-like gills, which are protected by the carapace, branch off from the base of their legs.

The crayfish has a carapace or a shield that starts from the head and covers the entire thorax. Aside from protecting the gills, it also allows for the constant flow of oxygenated water over the gills so the crayfish can breathe. According to the Australian Museum, the crayfish is a crustacean and belongs to the phylum Arthropoda. Moreover, a crayfish's body is composed of three parts: the abdomen or the tail, the head and the thorax, which contains the legs.