Euastacus sp. (genus)

Spiny crayfish at Namadgi National Park

Euastacus sp. (genus) at Namadgi National Park - 9 May 2024
Euastacus sp. (genus) at Namadgi National Park - 9 May 2024
Euastacus sp. (genus) at Namadgi National Park - 9 May 2024
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Identification history

Euastacus sp. (genus) 10 May 2024 MattBeitzel
Cherax destructor 9 May 2024 CarbonAI
Euastacus sp. (genus) 9 May 2024 HelenCross

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3 comments

MattBeitzel wrote:
   10 May 2024
This is an area that ACT gov is interested in defining the species. Unfortunately the claws are not distinctive. The body part that is the easiest to determine species from is called the gastric mill. It is part of the digestive system of the crayfish. Would like to obtain carapaces (main bodies) from dead crayfish from this area to look at the mill or good pictures of the mills.
HelenCross wrote:
   10 May 2024
Thanks Matt, there never seems to be much else left than the claws from the ones I've seen so far but will keep looking. Have you got a link to some good illustrations or images of the gastric mill and where it is?
MattBeitzel wrote:
   10 May 2024
thanks Helen. Yes they are much less common than claws after predation events
try
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-gastric-mill-and-its-components-A-Cherax-quadricarinatus-specimen-with-the-carapace_fig8_281445611
The ones needed are the outer mill structures (Zt) shown in the figure and in Figure 2. Not the parrot beak structure in the middle.
They are located in the front third of the carapace but are not the external mandibles. Usually in a long dead specimen they are packed with dried vegetable matter that is their food.

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  • 25mm to 50mm Animal size

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