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Bloodclaw Crayfish (Euastacus gumar)

The Bloodclaw Crayfish is a freshwater crayfish endemic to north-eastern New South Wales. It inhabits rainforested headwater gullies and streams, making these waterways and their banks important considerations for works.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Seasonal planning

Berried females have been collected in September; breeding is also reported during the cooler months.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Breeding: Berried females have been collected in September; breeding is also reported during the cooler months.

Identification: Appearance

It is not heavily spinose and may have a dark green body with an orange underside and red or orange appendages. The back may be green-brown, with red or orange claws.

It is not heavily spinose and may have a dark green body with an orange underside and red or orange appendages. The back may be green-brown, with red or orange claws.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species occurs in north-eastern New South Wales, in tributaries of the Clarence and Richmond river systems around the Richmond Range and Yabbra Spur. Its range is fragmented into three distinct areas.

The species occurs in north-eastern New South Wales, in tributaries of the Clarence and Richmond river systems around the Richmond Range and Yabbra Spur. Its range is fragmented into three distinct areas.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It is found in rainforested gullies and headwater streams, typically above about 200 metres elevation. It is restricted to rainforested headwater reaches, although it does not rely on flowing or standing water.

It is found in rainforested gullies and headwater streams, typically above about 200 metres elevation. It is restricted to rainforested headwater reaches, although it does not rely on flowing or standing water.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Females mature at about 30 mm OCL and carry batches of 20 to 150 eggs. A small proportion of mature females breed during the cooler months.

Females mature at about 30 mm OCL and carry batches of 20 to 150 eggs. A small proportion of mature females breed during the cooler months.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

It can use shallow excavations beneath rocks and vegetation, and may dig deeper burrows in stream beds and banks. These burrows can extend into subsurface groundwater and provide refuge when streams dry.

It can use shallow excavations beneath rocks and vegetation, and may dig deeper burrows in stream beds and banks. These burrows can extend into subsurface groundwater and provide refuge when streams dry.

Threats: Threats

Drought and bushfire have severely affected populations, and drought is a major concern for the species. Habitat loss and fragmentation, including from agricultural clearing, are also noted pressures.

Drought and bushfire have severely affected populations, and drought is a major concern for the species. Habitat loss and fragmentation, including from agricultural clearing, are also noted pressures.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing rainforested gullies could remove or fragment habitat, while excavation or in-water works in stream beds and banks could disturb the species’ burrows and refuges. Drought and bushfire have also severely affected populations.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Rainforest or vine thicket

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

It is found in rainforested gullies and headwater streams, typically above about 200 metres elevation.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: NSW.

Habitat use: general

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations: Water-associated habitat mentioned in profile

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

It is found in rainforested gullies and headwater streams, typically above about 200 metres elevation.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: NSW.

Habitat use: general

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources