Euastacus dalagarbe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Euastacus dalagarbe |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Astacidea
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Parastacidae
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E. dalagarbe
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| Binomial name | |
| Euastacus dalagarbe Coughran, 2005
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The Euastacus dalagarbe is a special kind of freshwater crayfish. It lives only in Australia and belongs to a family of crayfish called Parastacidae. This crayfish has a very small home in New South Wales. Because of this, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature says it is "critically endangered". This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
What it Looks Like
Scientists first officially described Euastacus dalagarbe in 2005. This happened during surveys in northeastern New South Wales. It was one of four new crayfish species found then.
This crayfish looks like a mix between Euastacus setosus and other spiny crayfish in its group. The front part of its head, called the rostrum, can be about 36 millimeters (1.4 inches) long.
Its body is greenish-brown on top and brown underneath. Its large claws, called chelae, are greenish-blue on top. They are dull orange underneath. Its walking legs are a pale tan color. You can also spot a blue spine with a yellow tip right behind its eye.
Where it Lives
Home and Habitat
The Euastacus dalagarbe lives only in a small part of the Border Ranges National Park in New South Wales, Australia. It can be found in small valleys and tiny streams that are the very start of bigger rivers. These areas are usually in forests, high up at over 570 meters (1,870 feet) above sea level.
The total area where this crayfish lives is quite small, about 50 square kilometers (19 square miles). This area is also broken up into eight separate spots. The crayfish likes to burrow under stones in mud and clay. This helps it reach moist places and stay cool.
It shares its home with a larger, spiny crayfish called Euastacus sulcatus. However, E. dalagarbe prefers the smaller streams. Many of these tiny streams can dry up during the summer.
Conservation Status
The Euastacus dalagarbe needs very specific places to live. Its biggest threat is losing its habitat. Things like forest fires or other natural disasters could really hurt its numbers. Because its home is broken into small pieces, it's hard for them to move to new, safer places.
Climate change is also a worry. It might force the crayfish to move even higher up mountains to find the cool water it needs. Other threats include wild animals like feral cats and foxes that might eat them. Farm animals can also pollute the water where they live. Cane toads, which are an invasive species, have also moved into their area and might cause problems.
Because of all these dangers, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature has said that this crayfish is "critically endangered". This means it is very close to becoming extinct.
