in Coastal

Coastal Victoria has 36 species of freshwater cray belonging to 5 genera. Many of these species are highly cryptic and so little is known of their biology. Many species may appear similar to the untrained eye however the freshwater crays of coastal Victoria can be divided into three broad groups based on their physical characteristics and habitat requirements. These groups are the Terrestrial Crays (spend much of their life in terrestrial environments), Semi-aquatic Crays (inhabit both terrestrial and aquatic Healthy coastal catchments – HealthY coastal CRAYS habitats) and Aquatic Crays (spend most of their lives within freshwater habitats).

Southern Victorian Spiny Gippsland Spiny Crayfish Glenelg Spiny Crayfish t Central Victorian Spiny Crayfish Semi-aquatic crays s

• One species in coastal Victoria, the Common Yabby, destructor ie • Small to medium size cray (125-150mm)

• No spines on body/smooth exoskeleton c • Will form relatively deep burrows (up to 50cm deep) with no definable chimney e • Widely distributed in Victoria and around and this

species has been translocated to a number of localities p Scientific name: yarraensis Scientific name: Euastacus kershawi Scientific name: Euastacus bispinosus Scientific name: Euastacus woiwuru • Very common species, and often bred in Photo courtesy of Neil Armstrong. Photo courtesy of Tarmo Raadik. Photo courtesy of Wayne Koster and Peter Fairbrother. Photo courtesy of Jarod Lyon. Photo courtesy of Greg Hollis. S

Western Swamp Crayfish t

Threats Aquatic crays Western Swamp Crayfish Crayfish Habitat sh i • Includes the Western Swamp Crayfish • One species in coastal Victoria, the Western Swamp • Only found in Western Victoria in freshwater swamp margins (Gramastacus insolitus) and the spiny crays Crayfish (Gramastacus insolitus) or in the banks of slow flowing or ephemeral streams Native freshwater crayfish require good (Euastacus spp.) • Very similar in appearance to Geocharax falcata which • The Western Swamp Crayfish is considered threatened riparian vegetation and clean water. f occurs in the same locality in coastal Victoria under the FFG Act • Have sharp spines on the body and claws of the adult Activities in or near the riparian zone,

• Very small, adults rarely exceeding 30-35mm in length y • Spend most of their lives in aquatic ecosystems but may Spiny crays climb out and cross land occasionally • The male Western Swamp Crayfish can be distinguished such as clearing, grazing and the spraying from Geocharax by the presence of large uncalcified genital • Medium to large crays (may grow up to 1kg in weight) • Large abdomen of pesticides can threaten the quality of papilla (reproductive tube used for sperm deposition), while • 10 species in coastal Victoria, most with a very restricted distribution • Claws held/opened in a horizontal plane the females have hairs on the inside face of their claws. crayfish habitat. Protecting and revegetating • Species are found across Victoria in cool flowing streams • Juveniles of Geocharax are commonly misidentified Scientific name: Gramastacus insolitus • Prefer areas with clean, silt free substrates and good riparian zones, and minimising pesticide ra • Four of the spiny cray species found in coastal Victoria are riparian vegetation as swamp crays threatened under the FFG Act use are vital activities to conserve Photo courtesy of Kerrylyn Johnston. freshwater crayfish habitat. Photo courtesy of Fern Hames. C

Otway Crayfish Valuable habitat – native vegetation Valuable habitat – clean water r Burrowing crays Land crays

Terrestrial crays e • Includes the burrowing crays (Engaeus spp.) • 22 species found in coastal Victoria • Two species in coastal Victoria, Otway Cray and the land crays (Geocharax spp.) • Species are found in all catchments south of the (G. gracilis) and Western Cray (G. falcata) • Small (fully grown adult typically 50-75mm) Great Divide • Found near freshwater swamps and occasionally in • Chelae (claws) held/opened in a vertical plane • Many species have a very restricted distribution slow flowing water or ephemeral streams • Reduced tail/abdomen • Found in damp soil in riparian habitats and forests and • Both species are restricted to south-western Victoria. • Prefer areas with good riparian vegetation some species may even be found instream The Western Cray is only found in the Glenelg Hopkins catchment. The Otway Cray is found in the • Species in this group can be cryptic but may be • Rarely found outside their burrows, only venturing out occasionally at night and in damp overcast conditions Corangamite catchment and potentially in the identified by the presence of ‘volcano’ or ‘chimney’ Glenelg Hopkins catchment shaped burrows • Seven burrowing crays species that occur in coastal Scientific name: Geocharax gracilis • Not all species in this group are exclusively terrestrial, Victoria are threatened under the FFG Act most species require access to freshwater habitats and Photo courtesy of Kris Pitman. Photo courtesy of Tarmo Raadik. some species may be found in freshwater Photo courtesy of Tarmo Raadik. shwat

Gippsland Burrowing Crayfish Warragul Burrowing Crayfish t Lowland Burrowing Crayfish Western Crayfish Burrow of a burrowing crayfish Crayfish key features e

The double red arrow Antennae indicates how some spiny or claws Chelae r crayfish are measured in Victoria from the back of the eye to the

centre middle rear of the F Rostrum – the carapace. Smaller species long spike that are often measured from sticks out from the tip of the rostrum to between the eyes the end of the tail. NOTE: Measuring crayfish for recreational catch purposes Head can vary between states or species. Please check with your local authority for details. Carapace a protective shield which covers the thorax (the section Spines on the claws, head, that contains the Scientific name: Engaeus hemicirratulus Scientific name: Engaeus sternalis Scientific name: Engaeus quadrimanus Scientific name: Geocharax falcata carapace and/or abdomen legs and gills) indicate that a crayfish is a spiny crayfish Abdomen or tail

Photo courtesy of Greg Hollis. Photo courtesy of Greg Hollis. Photo courtesy of Greg Hollis. Photo courtesy of Tarmo Raadik.

Burrow of a burrowing cray found in the Glenelg Hopkins catchment. Photo courtesy of Michelle Drew. Current known distribution of species FFG Act Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186 or write to [email protected], Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne, December 2008. Arthur Rylah Institute, Department of Sustainability and Environment, PO Box 137, Heidelberg 3084. t Species listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2008 This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and DPI Fisheries regulates the number, size and season for recreationally targeted species. of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on Regulations and other information can be viewed on the DPI website ISBN 978-1-74208-874-7 (Print) any information in this publication. www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/index.htm ISBN 978-1-74208-871-6 (PDF) www.dse.vic.gov.au/ari