Euastacus sp. (genus)

Spiny crayfish at Namadgi National Park

Euastacus sp. (genus) at Namadgi National Park - 9 May 2024
Euastacus sp. (genus) at Namadgi National Park - 9 May 2024
Euastacus sp. (genus) at Namadgi National Park - 9 May 2024
Request use of media

Identification history

Euastacus sp. (genus) 10 May 2024 MattBeitzel
Cherax destructor 9 May 2024 CarbonAI
Euastacus sp. (genus) 9 May 2024 HelenCross

Identify this sighting


Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

3 comments

MattBeitzel wrote:
   10 May 2024
This is an area that ACT gov is interested in defining the species. Unfortunately the claws are not distinctive. The body part that is the easiest to determine species from is called the gastric mill. It is part of the digestive system of the crayfish. Would like to obtain carapaces (main bodies) from dead crayfish from this area to look at the mill or good pictures of the mills.
HelenCross wrote:
   10 May 2024
Thanks Matt, there never seems to be much else left than the claws from the ones I've seen so far but will keep looking. Have you got a link to some good illustrations or images of the gastric mill and where it is?
MattBeitzel wrote:
   10 May 2024
thanks Helen. Yes they are much less common than claws after predation events
try
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-gastric-mill-and-its-components-A-Cherax-quadricarinatus-specimen-with-the-carapace_fig8_281445611
The ones needed are the outer mill structures (Zt) shown in the figure and in Figure 2. Not the parrot beak structure in the middle.
They are located in the front third of the carapace but are not the external mandibles. Usually in a long dead specimen they are packed with dried vegetable matter that is their food.

Please Login or Register to comment.

Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 1 - image sightings only

Location information

Sighting information

  • 4 - 15 Abundance
  • 9 May 2024 10:33 AM Recorded on
  • HelenCross Recorded by

Additional information

  • 25mm to 50mm Animal size

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
2,157,535 sightings of 19,989 species in 6,537 locations from 11,640 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.