Species · GBIF taxon 4648609
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
- diet
- Omnivorous scavenger feeding on detritus, aquatic plants, algae, and small invertebrates.
- family
- Parastacidae
- threats
- Water pollution, extreme drought, and habitat destruction from agricultural runoff.
- life Span
- 4 to 5 years
LC
Large males can deliver a painful pinch with their claws; handle with care if necessary.
Equipped with powerful, muscular claws capable of delivering a painful pinch that can break the skin.
Never grab them by the limbs or from the front; pick them up from behind the thorax.- 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.