Lamington crayfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lamington crayfish |
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| Euastacus sulcatus in Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia | |
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| Red/White variant in Mount Barney National Park, Queensland, Australia. | |
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Euastacus
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| Species: |
sulcatus
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The Euastacus sulcatus, also known as the Lamington crayfish, is a type of freshwater crayfish or "yabby". It lives naturally in Australia. This crayfish is often bright blue. But you can also find it in red and white, rusty red, brown, green, orange, and even completely white colors. These different colored crayfish are found across its known home areas.
Lamington crayfish can be seen walking on the forest floor. This usually happens when the ground is wet, like after a lot of rain. They are often looking for a mate, a new place to live, or food. If a Lamington crayfish feels threatened, it will lift its two strong front pincers. It is ready to pinch any animal that might try to harm it. When these spiny crayfish grow to full size, they have no natural enemies. However, animals like foxes and cats have been brought into their habitat. These new animals hunt the crayfish, which are not used to defending themselves against them. Because of its amazing colors, people sometimes want to keep the Lamington crayfish as a pet in aquariums. They are also sometimes caught for food. This species is now protected by law. It is against the law to trap, remove, or harm these crayfish. If you do, you could get a fine.
Where the Lamington Crayfish Lives
The Lamington crayfish lives only in streams. These streams are found in rainforests and sometimes in wet eucalyptus forests. They live at altitudes higher than 300 meters (about 984 feet). You can find them in the mountains of Queensland, Australia. Their home stretches from Mount Tamborine to the Lamington Plateau. It also goes west along the Macpherson Range and north into the Mistake Mountains.
Lamington Crayfish Habitat
This crayfish species lives in streams and creeks. These waterways are found in rainforests. The areas where they live are always above 300 meters (about 984 feet) in height.
Images for kids
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The defensive position of a Spiny Lamington Crayfish underwater
