Euastacus spinifer
| Euastacus spinifer | ||||||||||||
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Euastacus spinifer |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Euastacus spinifer | ||||||||||||
| Heller , 1865 |
In euastacus spinifer is a large growing Flusskrebsart, which in Australia is based. The animals are characterized by particularly strong thorns. The species inhabits the upper reaches of the Hastings River , northwest of Port Macquarie south to Sydney and the Blue Mountains to the area of the Clyde Mountains near Brooman, an area that covers about 55,000 km².
ID
This crayfish species forms different colors and morphological variations in the various river systems of its extensive range . In the Blue Mountains, the body is mostly green-brown with a slight reddish pattern on the top. There are orange, yellow, or bluish spots on the sides. The spines are mostly darker, almost black with yellow or orange tips (especially the population of the Blue Mountains or in the southern areas). The scissors are dark green to olive green, the scissor fingers blue or dark green. The underside of the body is orange green or cream in color.
The total length can be up to 24 cm and the weight up to 1.8 kg.
Behavior and Development
These crabs mainly feed on detritus , but have also been seen catching tadpoles.
The females become sexually mature with a total length of 14 to 19 cm (160–1300 g). It is believed that the appearance of fine hairs around the gonopores is an indication of the female's sexual maturity. The males become sexually mature with a length of 11 cm and then have a weight of 50 to 80 g.
Mating takes place in May through June, when temperatures drop (to below 15 ° C). The females lay their eggs from mid-June, which are oval and measure 3.5 by 2.5 mm. Initially the eggs are brownish and get darker as they develop. The eggs need from the beginning of July to late October for their development until the larvae hatch and then an additional four to six weeks to pass through the larval stage. It is assumed that the females become sexually mature at seven to eight years of age, the males at five to six years.
This species is considered to be aggressive and cannibalistic, has a temperature range of 9 to 26 ° C and occurs mostly in the deep parts of the rivers, the bottom of which is covered with rubble, gravel and sand. The species lives at 70 to 800 meters above sea level and inhabits waters that are surrounded by dry eucalyptus forests.
literature
- Heller, C. (1865): Crustaceans . In: Journey of the Austrian frigate Novara around the earth in the years 1857, 1858, 1859 under the orders of Commodore B. von Wullerstorf-Urbair , vol. Zoological Part 2 (3), pp. 1-280. Vienna: Imperial and Royal Court and State Printing Office.
- Lukhaup, C. (2003): Freshwater crabs from all over the world . ISBN 3-935175-14-0
Individual evidence
- ↑ Euastacus spinifer in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2010. Posted by: Coughran, J. & Furse, J., 2011. Retrieved on February 22 2012th
Web links
- Crandall, Keith A: Euastacus spinifer Heller 1865. In: The Tree of Life Web Project. January 1, 2001, accessed February 22, 2012 .