Distinguishing features
Colour is highly variable and depends on water clarity and habitat; yabbies can range from black, blue-black or dark brown in clear waters to light brown, green-brown or beige in turbid waters.
Ones that have been specifically bred to be a vibrant blue colour are now popular in the aquarium trade in Australia. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Up to 20 cm (Total length)
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
They are common th Victoria and New South Wales, although the species also occurs in southern Queensland, South Australia androughout parts of the Northern Territory, making it the most widespread Australian crayfish. They have been introduced to Western Australia, where it is an invasive species.
Yabbies are found in swamps, streams, rivers, reservoirs and farm dams at low to medium elevations. It appears they were largely restricted to lower altitude habitats in inland areas of south-eastern Australia.
They are found in many ephemeral waterways, and can survive dry conditions for long periods of time (at least several years) by aestivating (lying dormant) in burrows sunk deep into muddy creek and swamp beds. (Wikipedia)
Diet
They are primarily nocturnal detritivores, feeding primarily on algae and plant remains, at night, but also opportunistically feeding on any fish or animal remains they encounter at any time of day. (Wikipedia)
