Swamp Yabby 2

The Search continues...

More on the swamp yabby,

further update below

Swamp Yabby,

Well here you are, the rarely seen swamp yabby. This crayfish has been avoiding me and Tarmo Raadik, (Senior Biologist at the ARI ) for quite some time. Unfortunately I have only seen dead specimens and as you know I won't display images like that on my site.

Recently Tarmo had these photographs forwarded to him from Dave Trickey of the Tatura branch of the Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment.

If you have any information on these yabbies please don't hesitate to contact Tarmo or me.

This is an extract of Dave's letter toTarmo

Tarmo,

As discussed these are the photographs taken of the yabbies from Nagambie.

In total there were three yabbies. They were caught one mile east of Nagambie on the 25th of May 1998. The largest weighed 305 grams and the smallest 175grams.

A licenced bait fisherman caught them.

DT.

To an untrained eye they do just look like yabbies but the extra wide claws and the paddle shaped appendage on the carpus surely separates it from any other Cherax spp.

It appears that they spend the majority of there life in burrows in swampy areas and seldom come to the surface. This behaviour is more like that of Engaeus rather than Cherax. It could be that the claw is modified for digging and scraping (that's just my theory).

Tarmo has made a simple key to distinguish it from other cherax.

If the overall width of the claw ( line B ) is more than 50 percent of the length ( line A )then you have a swamp yabby. I hope the illustration helps.

Other differences:

1. The paddle like protrusion on the carpus

2. The broader part of the claw fits in relief to the paddle protrusion.

UPDATE 1 September 2004

Susan Lawler of the La Trobe University Wodonga Campus is still working on a formal identification. Some sources call this yabby Cherax C and others Cherax rotundas, stay tuned for updates. Contact Sue here




The Search continues...
More on the swamp yabby, further update below

Swamp Yabby, Well here you are, the rarely seen swamp yabby. This crayfish has been avoiding me and Tarmo Raadik, (Senior Biologist at the ARI ) for quite some time. Unfortunately I have only seen dead specimens and as you know I won't display images like that on my site. Recently Tarmo had these photographs forwarded to him from Dave Trickey of the Tatura branch of the Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment. If you have any information on these yabbies please don't hesitate to contact Tarmo or me.
	This is an extract of Dave's letter toTarmo Tarmo, As discussed these are the photographs taken of the yabbies from Nagambie. In total there were three yabbies. They were caught one mile east of Nagambie on the 25th of May 1998. The largest weighed 305 grams and the smallest 175grams. A licenced bait fisherman caught them. DT.
To an untrained eye they do just look like yabbies but the extra wide claws and the paddle shaped appendage on the carpus surely separates it from any other Cherax spp. It appears that they spend the majority of there life in burrows in swampy areas and seldom come to the surface. This behaviour is more like that of Engaeus rather than Cherax. It could be that the claw is modified for digging and scraping (that's just my theory).
	Tarmo has made a simple key to distinguish it from other cherax. If the overall width of the claw ( line B ) is more than 50 percent of the length ( line A )then you have a swamp yabby. I hope the illustration helps. Other differences: 1. The paddle like protrusion on the carpus 2. The broader part of the claw fits in relief to the paddle protrusion.

UPDATE 1 September 2004 Susan Lawler of the La Trobe University Wodonga Campus is still working on a formal identification. Some sources call this yabby Cherax C and others Cherax rotundas, stay tuned for updates. Contact Sue here