Swamp crayfish

What does it look like?

The swamp crayfish is one of the world's smallest crayfish, growing up to only 30 millimetres in length. It is greyish-brown in colour. Unlike other crayfish in South East Queensland, it has claws that open vertically rather than horizontally.

Where does it live?

On the Gold Coast, swamp crayfish are limited to a few sites in the Biggera Creek and Loders Creek catchments.

More broadly, they have a patchy distribution extending south from Woodgate, Queensland to Wooli, New South Wales.

Ecology & habitat

Swamp crayfish inhabit coastal wallum heathland, melaleuca swamps and adjoining melaleuca forest. They have also been recorded in road-side ditches, concrete culverts and water-filled tyre tracks. Swamp crayfish are often found in seasonally inundated habitat, which can dry up with no surface water for extended periods. It is often associated with acidic tannin-stained waters. 

The basic ecology and biology of swamp crayfish is poorly understood. They live underground in burrows, which may connect to the water table. They are opportunistic scavengers, eating mainly decaying vegetation. 

How is its survival threatened?

• Reduced habitat from urbanisation, industry, pollution and saltwater intrusion
• Barriers to movement from construction of roads and rail lines can fragment populations, making them vulnerable to droughts and surface water pollution

How can we help?

• Improve understanding of the species’ distribution and location of habitat areas
• Protect existing populations and remaining habitat areas from clearing and other high impact activities
• Improve and/or expand habitat areas for existing populations
• Improve habitat connectivity so existing populations can move safely between habitat areas
• Protect the species from death or injury during clearing and construction phases of development and infrastructure maintenance

Image credit: Indra Bone