Ryan Photographic -Parastacidae - Southern Hemisphere Freshwater Crayfish
Family Parastacidae
This decapod family could be the poster child of Gondwanan distributions. With 305 species in 29 genera these species are found in all the Gondwanan remnants except for Africa (but they are found in Madagascar). The greatest diversity is in Australia where there has been substantial radiation.
They carry out their entire life cycle in freshwater. Females produce relatively large eggs which they carry on their pleopods until they hatch, after undergoing a number of larval stages within the egg. Young resemble the adults and cling to the female before taking up an independent existence. Most species are omnivores.
Cherax destructor Yabby
Cherax destructor, Yabby, South Australia
Euastacus armatus Murray River crayfish
Euastacus armatus, Murray River crayfish, Australia, Captive. The red at the bottom is from the aquarium lighting ... this is the world's biggest freshwater crayfish.
Paranephrops planifrons Freshwater crayfish
Paranephrops planifrons in Te Waikoropupū Springs, Nelson, New Zealand
Paranephrops planifrons Unusual blue morph. West Coast, New Zealand, South Island.
Paranephrops planifrons Blue freshwater crayfish 3, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand
Paranephrops planifrons Blue freshwater crayfish