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Burnie Burrowing Crayfish (Engaeus yabbimunna)

The Burnie Burrowing Crayfish is a freshwater crayfish endemic to Tasmania, with a restricted range around Burnie and to the west. It favours wet, slowly draining riparian areas and seepages, so works affecting moist banks, remnant vegetation or water flow may be relevant.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Vulnerable.

Seasonal planning

Crayfish in Burnie are reported to be most active in the warmer months, roughly December to February.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Summer: Crayfish in Burnie are reported to be most active in the warmer months, roughly December to February.

Identification: Appearance

It is a small grey-blue crayfish, reported to be less than 10 cm long, and is rarely seen outside its burrow. Burrow chimneys of pelleted soil can be a visible sign of its presence.

It is a small grey-blue crayfish, reported to be less than 10 cm long, and is rarely seen outside its burrow. Burrow chimneys of pelleted soil can be a visible sign of its presence.

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 is known from an area of about 130 km² covering Burnie and areas immediately to the west. Recorded localities include Burnie Park, Shorewell, Romaine, Cooee, Seabrook, Camp and Distillery creeks, and a small tributary of the Cam River.

The species is known from an area of about 130 km² covering Burnie and areas immediately to the west. Recorded localities include Burnie Park, Shorewell, Romaine, Cooee, Seabrook, Camp and Distillery creeks, and a small tributary of the Cam River.

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 favours well-covered, slowly draining strips of fern-dominated native riparian vegetation, including stream banks and seepages. Records also include grassy pasture, farm dams, roadside seeps and culverts, sedgey marsh, and some moderately disturbed stream sides.

It favours well-covered, slowly draining strips of fern-dominated native riparian vegetation, including stream banks and seepages. Records also include grassy pasture, farm dams, roadside seeps and culverts, sedgey marsh, and some moderately disturbed stream sides.

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

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

It lives in burrows, which are often type 2. Burrows may be marked by chimneys formed from pelleted soil brought to the surface.

It lives in burrows, which are often type 2. Burrows may be marked by chimneys formed from pelleted soil brought to the surface.

Threats: Threats

Identified threats include water pollution, water diversion and habitat removal in urban areas. Populations within Burnie have also been reported at risk from human disturbance and declining water quality.

Identified threats include water pollution, water diversion and habitat removal in urban areas. Populations within Burnie have also been reported at risk from human disturbance and declining water quality.

Threats: Works risk

Land clearing or other habitat removal can affect the riparian vegetation and seepages it uses. Works that pollute or divert water, or cause disturbance in its habitat, could also harm the species.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

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

Surveys have recorded potential burrow chimneys as evidence indicating the species may be present. Its burrows and moist banks are useful signs to look for, as the crayfish is rarely seen outside its burrow.

Survey methodology: 2. Commonwealth guidance

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: 3. Limits

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

Vegetation associations: Wetland or sedgeland

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

Records also include grassy pasture, farm dams, roadside seeps and culverts, sedgey marsh, and some moderately disturbed stream sides.

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: TAS.

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 favours well-covered, slowly draining strips of fern-dominated native riparian vegetation, including stream banks and seepages.

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: TAS.

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