Procambarus clarkii was harvested in different months (April, May, and June) and classified to different groups based on weight (small, 10–20 g; medium, 20–30 g; and large, 30–40 g). The head shells (HS) and tail shells (TS) were obtained and chemical proximate components, microstructure and texture of crayfish shell were investigated, and the principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis among the indices was performed. The results indicated that the moisture content of crayfish shell was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), whereas the contents of chitin, ash, and calcium was increased with the passage of sampling time and the increase of sampling weight. Under the same crayfish weight and same sampling month, the hardness and lipid content of HS were higher than TS, while the protein content exhibited an opposite trend. The results of PCA and correlation analysis showed that the gradual harden crayfish shell from April to June exhibited an increased thickness, ordered protein, tighten intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which might possess a high mechanical properties of red swamp crayfish during transport. This work would be benefit for the replenishment of crayfish shell database and provided theoretical references for crayfish transportation standard.

Procambarus clarkii在不同月份（4 月、5 月和 6 月）收获，并根据重量分为不同的组（小型，10-20 克；中型，20-30 克；大型，30-40 克）。获取头壳（HS）和尾壳（TS），研究小龙虾壳的化学近似成分、微观结构和质地，并进行主成分分析（PCA）和指标间的相关性分析。结果表明，小龙虾壳的水分含量显着降低（P < 0.05)，而甲壳素、灰分和钙的含量随着取样时间的推移和取样重量的增加而增加。在相同的小龙虾重量和相同的采样月份下，HS的硬度和脂质含量高于TS，而蛋白质含量则呈现相反的趋势。主成分分析和相关性分析结果表明，4-6月小龙虾壳逐渐变硬，厚度增加，蛋白质有序，分子内和分子间氢键收紧，可能具有红沼泽小龙虾在运输过程中的较高力学性能。该工作将有利于小龙虾壳数据库的补充，为小龙虾运输标准提供理论参考。