Freshwater white-clawed crayfish  (Austropotamobius pallipes)

This crayfish was once widely distributed across Europe, but has undergone a severe decline, and remaining populations are increasingly fragmented (2). Before 1980 this species was also widespread throughout Britain and Ireland (2), but a large number of populations have since been lost (3). It is currently still fairly abundant in central and northern areas of England (2).

Tends to prefer clear, well-oxygenated, alkaline water (2) and occurs in small streams, lakes, rivers, water-filled quarries and reservoirs (2).