Invertebrate
Redclaw Crayfish
Cherax quadricarinatusAlso known as Queensland Redclaw, Australian Redclaw, Tropical Blue Crayfish
Redclaw crayfish are large, striking freshwater crustaceans distinguished by the bright red patches on the outer margins of the claws in mature males. They thrive in slow-moving rivers, billabongs, and ponds, where they construct simple burrows or hide under submerged logs and clay banks. Highly adaptable and tolerant of low oxygen levels, these active foragers have successfully established wild populations far outside their native northern Australian range.
FreshwaterNocturnalInvasive
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAquatic Plants, Insect Larvae, Detritus
Predators
- Barramundi
- Egrets
- Freshwater Turtles
ThreatsWater pollution, extreme drought, and habitat destruction from agricultural runoff.
HabitatsSlow-moving clay-bottomed rivers, billabongs, lakes, and freshwater reservoirs.
Life span4 to 5 years
Classification
- FamilyParastacidae
- SpeciesCherax quadricarinatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Large males can deliver a painful pinch with their claws; handle with care if necessary.
- Why it is dangerous
- Equipped with powerful, muscular claws capable of delivering a painful pinch that can break the skin.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for the distinctive bright red patches on the outer margins of the claws on large, blue-green bodies.
- What to do
- Never grab them by the limbs or from the front; pick them up from behind the thorax.
Responsible observation
- Spotting at night: Use a flashlight to scan shallow, slow-moving water margins after dark when they are most active.
- Safe handling: Grasp the crayfish firmly from the back of the carapace, just behind the claws, to avoid being pinched.
Close Relative (c) Peter Crowcroft, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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