This year, an invasive crayfish species that reproduce prolifically is found in a pond near the Brownsville area. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) said that researchers from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley recently came around the giant Australian redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus) in January and February and collected some specimens.
The Australian redclaw crayfish, also known as the tropical blue crayfish, has been in the US for some time, but the specimens are the first to be documented in the wild in Texas. Three specimens were collected from an apartment complex pond that connects to a resaca, which are bodies of water in some parts of Cameron County that are former channels of the Rio Grande.
Australian Redclaw Crayfish in the US
Before the recent sighting of the invasive species, a 2013 report in the public biodiversity database of the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic called iNaturalist featured a female Australian redclaw crayfish and her three babies in Brownsville. TPWD said that the fact that the species has been present in the same area indicates that it has been there for some time.
But other than that, the only place where the species has been spotted in the wild in the US was in California. However, there are no established populations of Australian redclaw crayfish in the country. Nonetheless, experts think that the invasive species should be monitored due to their potential to spread and cause harm to native ecosystems.
Dr. Archis Grubh, an aquatic biologist at TPWD, surveyed numerous sites in the area and found three Australian redclaw crayfish. He said they still do not know when the species were first introduced or how far they have spread.
That makes spreading information about them and reporting sightings important to help authorities spread the word about this invasive species.
They collected male and female Australian redclaw crayfish, so they are also concerned with the reproduction of this species that can reproduce 1,000 eggs up to five times a year. Additionally, the large crayfish can alter habitat and vegetation that competitively exclude native crayfish and affect native fish communities.
TPWD also reminds the publish that Australian redclaw crayfish and other members of the crayfish Family Parastacidae cannot be legally bought, sold, or possessed in aquariums as they are prohibited from exotic species in Florida.
Australian redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) in aquarium
About Australian Redclaw Crayfish
Australian redclaw crayfish are native to northern Australia and Papua New Guinea and can be found in various freshwater habitats. According to Newsweek, the species prefers stagnant water bodies in addition to rocky habitats in caves. But some of them can also be found in fast-flowing rivers, lakes, lagoons, and other freshwater bodies of water.
These large crayfish tend to be blue-green with red and maroon highlights, although males have distinctive red patches on their claws that inspired their name. They could grow up to 10 inches, weigh as much as two pounds at a rapid rate, and reach their maximum size in under a year.
Given their various habitats, the species can be highly adaptable to different environments and consume a wide range of foods. These traits have helped them become successful invasive species in different locations around the world that once their populations have become established, eradicating them would almost be impossible.
So far, this species has managed to establish a population in Ecuador, Israel, Mexico, Jamaica, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Singapore, Thailand, and Zambia, which are countries outside the native range of Australian redclaw crayfish.
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