Conservation of imperiled crayfish, Euastacus clarkae Morgan, 1997 (Decapoda: Parastacidae), a highland crayfish from the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia’s World Heritage Area

A recent comprehensive survey of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia’s World Heritage Area has significantly advanced the conservation understanding of Clark’s crayfish (Euastacus clarkae), a critically endangered highland species. The study, conducted by the Australian Crayfish Project, mapped its distribution across the entire Hastings River catchment (3846 km²), revealing that the species is confined to headwater streams at elevations between 670–1150 meters, with an Extent of Occurrence of just 200 km². Nearly all populations were found within Werrikimbe National Park, where they are locally abundant. Based on these findings, researchers recommend downlisting the species from Critically Endangered to Endangered in conservation assessments. The study also provides a key for identifying Euastacus crayfish species in the region and offers critical data to inform future management strategies.

McCormack, R. B. (2015). Conservation of imperiled crayfish, Euastacus clarkae Morgan, 1997 (Decapoda: Parastacidae), a highland crayfish from the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia’s World Heritage Area. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 35(2), 282–291. https://doi.org/10.1163/1937240x-00002315