Crustaceans
103
Cherax destructor Clark 1936
Order: Decapoda
Family: Parastacidae
Common name: Yabbie crayfish.
Distribution: Throughout Australia
(ARKive).
Habitat: Low-lying swamp grounds,
streams, rivers, and dams.
Description: This smooth-shelled species usually varies in color from olivegreen to brown, but can also be blue,
yellow, red, or black depending on the
habitat, location, and individual (http://
w w w.ark ive.org/yabbie-crayfish/
cherax-destructor/-ref3). The six segments of the abdomen are individually
encased within a flexible membrane.
It has a pair of large claws at the front
end, followed by four pairs of walking
legs and then four pairs of small swimming legs called swimmerets. A central
tail flap is surrounded by four other
flaps that are used to move the crayfish
rapidly through the water. There are
two eyes on the end of eyestalks. The
maximum length and weight of this
species are 20 cm and 320 g, respectively (ARKive).
Cherax tenuimanus Smith 1912
Order: Decapoda
Family: Parastacidae
Common name: Hairy marron, Margaret
River marron.
Distribution: Southwestern Australia
(ARKive).
Habitat: Permanent freshwater tributaries of forested high-rainfall areas.
Description: It is one of the largest
freshwater crayfish species (2 kg) in the
world. This hairy-shelled species has
jet black pincers and a paler olive-green
to brown body. Its underside is brown
and females have areas of red coloration
on the underside and some splashes of
purple. The six segments of the abdomen are individually encased within a
flexible membrane. It has a pair of large