Giant freshwater crayfish  (Astacopsis gouldi)

Range

The giant freshwater crayfish was previously found in all rivers that flow into the Bass Strait, which runs between Tasmania and the Australian mainland. Today, however, the distribution is patchy and limited to less disturbed areas (3).

View a distribution map for this species at UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Habitat

These crustaceans inhabit dark, slow-moving rivers and streams with high water quality and little suspended sediment, as well as still, deep pools with logs and overhanging banks to shelter beneath (2) (3) (4). The water needs to be below 18 oC with high oxygen content (5).

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