Cherax quadricarinatus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cherax Quaricaturus |
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Cherax quadricarinatus is a cool freshwater crayfish from Australia. It has many nicknames, like the Australian red claw crayfish, Queensland red claw, or just redclaw. Some people also call it the tropical blue crayfish or freshwater blueclaw crayfish because of its color.
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Where It Lives and Its Lifestyle
This crayfish naturally lives in freshwater streams, billabongs (which are like ponds), and lakes. You can find it along the north coast of Australia's Northern Territory and in northeastern Queensland. You can also find some populations in Papua New Guinea.
- Spreading Around the World*
People have moved this crayfish to new places. Now, it lives in southern Queensland and even in the far north of Western Australia. It has also become an invasive species in several other countries. This means it has spread to places like South Africa, Mexico, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Zambia, and Singapore. When a species is invasive, it can sometimes cause problems for the local plants and animals.
This tropical crayfish can handle many changes in its environment. It mainly eats detritus, which is dead plant and animal matter. Think of it as nature's clean-up crew!
What It Looks Like
The Cherax quadricarinatus can be different colors. It might be dark brown or even blue-green. Adult males have a special red patch on the outside edge of their claws. This is why they are often called "red claw" crayfish! These crayfish can grow quite large, sometimes weighing up to 600 grams (that's about the weight of a small pineapple!).
How They Grow: The Life Cycle
Female crayfish are usually smaller than the males. A female can lay between 300 and 800 olive-green eggs at one time. After mating, the male leaves a special packet of cells (called a spermatophore) at the base of the female's walking legs. These cells then fertilize the eggs.
The female attaches her fertilized eggs to the tiny legs under her tail, called pleopods. She carries them there for about six weeks. During this time, the eggs hatch, and the baby crayfish grow. Once they are big enough, the newly hatched juveniles quickly become independent and swim off on their own.
Crayfish Farming (Aquaculture)
Cherax quadricarinatus is a popular crayfish for farming. It is raised commercially in Queensland and the Northern Territory in Australia. Farmers usually harvest them when they weigh between 35 and 130 grams.
- Why They Are Good for Farming*
People like to eat this crayfish because it has a delicate seafood flavor. It's also a great choice for farming because these crayfish are not aggressive towards each other. Plus, they are very fertile, meaning they can have many babies. This makes it easy to breed large numbers of them in captivity. It takes about six to twelve months for them to grow to a good size for harvesting, especially when they are raised in the best conditions.
See also
In Spanish: Cherax quadricarinatus para niños
