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Ellen Clark's Crayfish (Euastacus clarkae)

Ellen Clark's Crayfish is a freshwater crayfish found in north-eastern New South Wales. It depends on cool, clear, permanently flowing upland streams, including small streams with pools and riffles.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Seasonal planning

Breeding is reported annually during these months, associated with falling water temperatures.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • May to June: Breeding is reported annually during these months, associated with falling water temperatures.

Identification: Appearance

It is a medium-sized crayfish in the intermediate group.

It is a medium-sized crayfish in the intermediate group.

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

It occurs in highland headwaters of the Hastings and Forbes rivers, and records extend into the upper Macleay River Basin. The species is associated with streams above 600 metres elevation, with the original range described at 670 to 1,150 metres.

It occurs in highland headwaters of the Hastings and Forbes rivers, and records extend into the upper Macleay River Basin. The species is associated with streams above 600 metres elevation, with the original range described at 670 to 1,150 metres.

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 inhabits cool, clear, permanently flowing streams, including small streams with shallow pools and riffles. It occurs in rainforest, Antarctic Beech forest, open forest and grassland, and is associated with high-altitude catchments.

It inhabits cool, clear, permanently flowing streams, including small streams with shallow pools and riffles. It occurs in rainforest, Antarctic Beech forest, open forest and grassland, and is associated with high-altitude catchments.

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

Breeding is reported to occur annually in May and June, associated with falling water temperatures. Egg batches are reported to contain 75 to 288 eggs.

Breeding is reported to occur annually in May and June, associated with falling water temperatures. Egg batches are reported to contain 75 to 288 eggs.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Adults use extensive burrow systems in streams. The species is reported from Type 1 burrows in permanently flowing water.

Adults use extensive burrow systems in streams. The species is reported from Type 1 burrows in permanently flowing water.

Threats: Threats

Drought and bushfire have affected the species, with reports of it being absent from some smaller feeder streams where it was previously abundant. Reported threats also include climate change, illegal fishing and exotic trout.

Drought and bushfire have affected the species, with reports of it being absent from some smaller feeder streams where it was previously abundant. Reported threats also include climate change, illegal fishing and exotic trout.

Threats: Works risk

In-water works or catchment disturbance that compromises cool, clear, permanently flowing streams could affect its habitat. Drought and severe bushfire are reported to have affected populations in smaller feeder streams.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

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

The species is reported to be easily captured in traps. A survey of the Hastings River catchment was used to assess its distribution.

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: 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 occurs in rainforest, Antarctic Beech forest, open forest and grassland, and is associated with high-altitude catchments.

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

Vegetation associations: Eucalypt forest

It occurs in rainforest, Antarctic Beech forest, open forest and grassland, and is associated with high-altitude catchments.

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

Vegetation associations: Tussock grassland

It occurs in rainforest, Antarctic Beech forest, open forest and grassland, and is associated with high-altitude catchments.

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 inhabits cool, clear, permanently flowing streams, including small streams with shallow pools and riffles.

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