Euastacus spinifer

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Euastacus spinifer
Sydney Spiny Crayfish 4239.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Family: Parastacidae
Genus: Euastacus
Species:
E. spinifer
Binomial name
Euastacus spinifer
(Heller, 1865)
Euastacus spinifer distribution.svg
Range of Euastacus spinifer (orange) in Australia
Synonyms

Astacoides spiniferHeller,1865
Cancer serratusShaw, 1794
Astacopsis paramattensisSpence Bate, 1888
Euastacus spinosusRiek, 1956

Contents

Euastacus spinifer is a species of freshwater crayfish endemic to Australia that belongs to the family Parastacidae. [2]

It was first described in 1865 as Astacoides spinifer by Camill Heller, [2] [3] but has been redescribed many times. [2] The argument [4] for the synonymy of the various names has been accepted. [2]

Appearance

Morphological variation is observed in Euastacus spinifer that originate in different river systems. They are mostly green with reddish-brown joints and bright spines. [5]

Diet

Detritus forms the staple diet of the species but they may also eat small invertebrates and tadpoles. [5] They are also cannibalistic. They are also believed to be opportunistic omnivores. [6]

Life cycle

Mating takes place in winter when temperature drops to as low as 15 °C (59 °F), and eggs are laid in early July. Eggs are carried in the female Pleopods and hatch after an incubation period of 110–140 days. Hatch-lings stay with their parents until early summer. Males mature in 5–6 years and grow to 11 centimetres (4 in) on maturity while females take about 8 years and grow to lengths above 14 centimetres (6 in). There is a class of "precious males" that mature at 4 centimetres (2 in) length. There are slight variations in reproduction cycle between species in different river systems. [7]

Size

Euastacus spinifer may grow up to 24 centimetres (9 in). [5] Largest recorded weight is 1.8 kilograms (4.0 lb). [8]

Distribution

They are endemic to Australia. They may be found from near sea level to as high as 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). They are distributed over a range of 55,000 square kilometres (21,000 sq mi). [1]

Habitat

Creeks and estuaries are their usual habitats. Their habitats are usually shaded by vegetation. [9]

Moulting

Moulting frequency of individuals in the species differs with size: smaller individuals moult up to six times a year while larger individuals moult only once a year. Different sizes moult at different seasons with temperature believed to be the regulating force. [10]

References

  1. 1 2 Coughran, J.; Furse, J. (2010). "Euastacus spinifer". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010 e.T153707A4534826. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T153707A4534826.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Species Euastacus spinifer (Heller, 1865)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Government. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  3. ↑ Camill Heller (1865). "Crustaceen". Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. von Wüllerstorf-Urbair (in German). Wikidata   Q126943020.
  4. ↑ G. J. Morgan (7 March 1997). "Freshwater crayfish of the genus Euastacus Clark (Decapoda: Parastacidae) from New South Wales, with a key to all species of the genus" (PDF). Records of the Australian Museum, Supplements. 23: 1–110. doi:10.3853/J.0812-7387.23.1997.429. ISSN   0812-7387. Wikidata   Q99653075.
  5. 1 2 3 "Species Bank Treatment for Euastacus spinifer". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  6. ↑ Turvey, P, Merrick, J R (1997). "Diet and feeding in the freshwater crayfish, Euastacus spinifer (Decapoda: Parastacidae), from the Sydney region, Australia". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 118: 175–185. ISSN   0370-047X. Wikidata   Q126919373.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ Turvey, P; Merrick, JR (1997). "Reproductive biology of the freshwater crayfish, Euastacus spinifer (Decapoda: Parastacidae), from the Sydney region, Australia". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 118: 131–155. ISSN   0370-047X. Wikidata   Q126919539.
  8. ↑ Turvey, P; Merrick, JR (1997). "Growth with age in the freshwater crayfish, Euastacus spinifer (Decapoda: Parastacidae), from the Sydney region". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 118: 205–215. ISSN   0370-047X. Wikidata   Q126919592.
  9. ↑ Keith A. Crandall. "Euastacus spinifer Heller 1865". Tree of Life Web Project . Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  10. ↑ Turvey, P; Merrick, JR (1997). "Moult increments and frequency in the freshwater crayfish, Euastacus spinifer (Decapoda: Parastacidae), from the Sydney region". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 118: 187–204. ISSN   0370-047X. Wikidata   Q126919613.
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