There are two known species of Mountain Spiny Crayfish in the ACT: Euastacus crassus and E. rieki. Little is known about the biology, distribution or status of either species in the ACT or elsewhere. The species are thought to primarily inhabit montane to alpine creeks and bogs. This makes them temperature dependent and therefore likely to be at risk of climate change.
The CPR Aquatic Team collected two berried females among 50 individuals collected as part of a surveying program in the subalpine bogs, creeks and rivers in the ACT. The program is designed to determine the distribution and relative abundance of E. crassus and E. rieki.
This is the first breeding information regarding E. rieki. It indicates that berried females remain active and are likely to hold their eggs over winter, despite the frequent snow cover and subzero temperatures. Improved monitoring of alpine areas will be important in understanding potential impacts from climate change on this species.90
Berried Euastacus rieki located in July 2014 in a subalpine bog in Namadgi National Park. This is the first female with eggs ever to be recorded – a tremendous leap towards filling the huge knowledge gaps on this cryptic species. Photo: ACT Government