{"id":1754,"date":"2025-11-05T09:13:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T09:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/?page_id=1754"},"modified":"2025-11-05T09:13:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T09:13:14","slug":"freshwater-spiny-crayfish","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/","title":{"rendered":"Freshwater Spiny Crayfish"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#foogallery-gallery-1747.fg-justified .fg-item { margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; }\n#foogallery-gallery-1747.fg-justified .fg-image { height: 200px; }<\/style>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"foogallery foogallery-container foogallery-justified foogallery-lightbox-foogallery fg-justified fg-ready fg-light fg-shadow-outline fg-loading-default fg-loaded-fade-in fg-caption-always fg-hover-fade fg-hover-zoom2\" id=\"foogallery-gallery-1747\" data-foogallery=\"{&quot;item&quot;:{&quot;showCaptionTitle&quot;:false,&quot;showCaptionDescription&quot;:false},&quot;lazy&quot;:true,&quot;template&quot;:{&quot;rowHeight&quot;:200,&quot;maxRowHeight&quot;:300,&quot;margins&quot;:5,&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;,&quot;lastRow&quot;:&quot;smart&quot;}}\" data-foogallery-lightbox=\"{&quot;thumbs&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;thumbsCaptions&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsBestFit&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsSmall&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsCaptionsAlign&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;infoVisible&quot;:true,&quot;infoOverlay&quot;:true,&quot;infoAlign&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;transition&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;hoverButtons&quot;:false,&quot;fitMedia&quot;:false,&quot;noScrollbars&quot;:true,&quot;preserveButtonSpace&quot;:true,&quot;buttons&quot;:{&quot;fullscreen&quot;:true,&quot;info&quot;:true,&quot;thumbs&quot;:false},&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;autoPlay&quot;:true}}\" >\n\t<div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web007.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Euastacus yanga underneath a small waterfall in Bundanoon, NSW.\" data-attachment-id=\"1694\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Euastacus yanga underneath a small waterfall in Bundanoon, NSW.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web007-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web059.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"The Illawarra Escarpment is home to the southern hairy crayfish (Euastacus hirsutus).\" data-attachment-id=\"1745\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"The Illawarra Escarpment is home to the southern hairy crayfish (Euastacus hirsutus).\" height=\"300\" width=\"679\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web059-768x339.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22679%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20679%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web031.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"A typical burrow of a spiny crayfish.\" data-attachment-id=\"1717\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"A typical burrow of a spiny crayfish.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web031-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web055.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1741\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web055-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web053.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"The Murray Cray (Euastacus armatus) is a threatened species. Historic overfishing and current illegal fishing practices remove individuals from a population. While fishing is still a common occurence, it is managed through strict restrictions.\" data-attachment-id=\"1739\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"The Murray Cray (Euastacus armatus) is a threatened species. Historic overfishing and current illegal fishing practices remove individuals from a population. While fishing is still a common occurence, it is managed through strict restrictions.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web053-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web052.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"After mating, an adult female spiny will carry her hundreds of fertilised eggs around with her, curled up in her tail. This is called a \u2018berried\u2019 female, as these little eggs often look like a cluster of berries.\" data-attachment-id=\"1738\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"After mating, an adult female spiny will carry her hundreds of fertilised eggs around with her, curled up in her tail. This is called a \u2018berried\u2019 female, as these little eggs often look like a cluster of berries.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web052-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web047.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1733\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web047-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web043.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Two adult Euastacus spinifer in a trap during surveys.\" data-attachment-id=\"1729\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Two adult Euastacus spinifer in a trap during surveys.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web043-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web040.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Sarah O&#039;Hea Miller and Daniel Coleman, from NSW DCCEEW, assessing an adult female Euastacus spinifer, which has lost both its claws recently.\" data-attachment-id=\"1726\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Sarah O&#039;Hea Miller and Daniel Coleman, from NSW DCCEEW, assessing an adult female Euastacus spinifer, which has lost both its claws recently.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web040-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web044.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"An adult female Euastacus spinifer being weighed during surveys.\" data-attachment-id=\"1730\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"An adult female Euastacus spinifer being weighed during surveys.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web044-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web042.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Daniel Coleman, from NSW DCCEEW, holding a smaller adult Euastacus spinifer.\" data-attachment-id=\"1728\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Daniel Coleman, from NSW DCCEEW, holding a smaller adult Euastacus spinifer.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web042-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web030.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Habitat alterations like dams, reservoirs and weirs can change water flow and other aspects of a screek system\" data-attachment-id=\"1716\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Habitat alterations like dams, reservoirs and weirs can change water flow and other aspects of a screek system\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web030-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web034.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"The small stream that many Fitzroy Falls Crayfish (Euastacus dharawalus) inhabit is extrmemly muddy and full of silt - a by product of the agriculture that is occuring around it.\" data-attachment-id=\"1720\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"The small stream that many Fitzroy Falls Crayfish (Euastacus dharawalus) inhabit is extrmemly muddy and full of silt - a by product of the agriculture that is occuring around it.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web034-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web038.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"A critically endangered Fitzroy Falls Spiny Crayfish (Euastacus dharawalus) inside a bait trap that is used to survey for the species.\" data-attachment-id=\"1724\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"A critically endangered Fitzroy Falls Spiny Crayfish (Euastacus dharawalus) inside a bait trap that is used to survey for the species.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web038-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web036.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"A critically endangered Fitzroy Falls Spiny Crayfish (Euastacus dharawalus) being released after surveys.\" data-attachment-id=\"1722\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"A critically endangered Fitzroy Falls Spiny Crayfish (Euastacus dharawalus) being released after surveys.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web036-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web054.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"A tiny juvenile Euastacus spinifer, seen next to a giant burrowing frog tadpole.\" data-attachment-id=\"1740\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"A tiny juvenile Euastacus spinifer, seen next to a giant burrowing frog tadpole.\" height=\"300\" width=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web054-200x300.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web032.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Spiny crayfish are &#039;keystone species&#039;, and play a key role in cycling nutrients, maintaining water quality, and processing leaf litter.\" data-attachment-id=\"1718\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Spiny crayfish are &#039;keystone species&#039;, and play a key role in cycling nutrients, maintaining water quality, and processing leaf litter.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web032-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web051.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"The common yabby (cherax destructor) is far smoother in comparison with spiny crayfish (Euastacus). While native to Australia, it has been introduced to many water systems outside of its natural distribution.\" data-attachment-id=\"1737\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"The common yabby (cherax destructor) is far smoother in comparison with spiny crayfish (Euastacus). While native to Australia, it has been introduced to many water systems outside of its natural distribution.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web051-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web049-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Many other stream dwelling species, such as this saw-shelled turtle (Myuchelys latisternum), feed on spiny crayfish. Mt Glorious, Qld.\" data-attachment-id=\"1748\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Many other stream dwelling species, such as this saw-shelled turtle (Myuchelys latisternum), feed on spiny crayfish. Mt Glorious, Qld.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web049-1-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web057.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Spiny crayfish are an important food source for many creek predators, like eels.\" data-attachment-id=\"1743\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Spiny crayfish are an important food source for many creek predators, like eels.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web057-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web060.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Many other stream dwelling species, such as this Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii), feed on spiny crayfish. Nowra, NSW.\" data-attachment-id=\"1746\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Many other stream dwelling species, such as this Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii), feed on spiny crayfish. Nowra, NSW.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web060-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web003.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"A Lamington spiny crayfish wandering a crystal clear stream, Queensland, Australia, 2021\" data-attachment-id=\"1690\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"A Lamington spiny crayfish wandering a crystal clear stream, Queensland, Australia, 2021\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web003-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web028.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Spiny crayfish have their origins on the cool, wet rainforests of Gondwana.\" data-attachment-id=\"1714\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Spiny crayfish have their origins on the cool, wet rainforests of Gondwana.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web028-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web025.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Many species of temnocephalan flatworms (Temnohaswellia and Temnosewellia) live their entire lives on their host spiny crayfish. Seen here are temnocephalan&#039;s covering the claw of a Euastacus guwinus\" data-attachment-id=\"1711\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Many species of temnocephalan flatworms (Temnohaswellia and Temnosewellia) live their entire lives on their host spiny crayfish. Seen here are temnocephalan&#039;s covering the claw of a Euastacus guwinus\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web025-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web024.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Many species of temnocephalan flatworms (Temnohaswellia and Temnosewellia) live their entire lives on their host spiny crayfish. Seen here are temnocephalan&#039;s covering the claw of a Euastacus australasiensis\" data-attachment-id=\"1710\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Many species of temnocephalan flatworms (Temnohaswellia and Temnosewellia) live their entire lives on their host spiny crayfish. Seen here are temnocephalan&#039;s covering the claw of a Euastacus australasiensis\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web024-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web012.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"A southern hairy crayfish (Euastacus hirsutus) assumes the characteristic spiny crayfish defense display\" data-attachment-id=\"1699\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"A southern hairy crayfish (Euastacus hirsutus) assumes the characteristic spiny crayfish defense display\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web012-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web039.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Sarah O&#039;Hea Miller holding an adult Euastacus spinifer.\" data-attachment-id=\"1725\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Sarah O&#039;Hea Miller holding an adult Euastacus spinifer.\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Euastacus_Web039-768x512.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1754","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":6}},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Freshwater Spiny Crayfish &#8226;<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Freshwater Spiny Crayfish &#8226;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/alexpikecreative\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/\",\"name\":\"Freshwater Spiny Crayfish &#8226;\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-05T09:13:14+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Freshwater Spiny Crayfish\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/\",\"name\":\"Alex Pike Creative\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Freshwater Spiny Crayfish &#8226;","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Freshwater Spiny Crayfish &#8226;","og_url":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/alexpikecreative\/","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"12 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/","url":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/","name":"Freshwater Spiny Crayfish &#8226;","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-11-05T09:13:14+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/freshwater-spiny-crayfish\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Freshwater Spiny Crayfish"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/","name":"Alex Pike Creative","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1754"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1754\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1759,"href":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1754\/revisions\/1759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alexpikecreative.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}