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Terrestrial Crayfish (Euastacus maccai)

The Terrestrial Crayfish is a freshwater crayfish endemic to the highlands of New South Wales. It inhabits wet, ephemeral areas with subsurface water, where its terrestrial burrows are the key habitat to consider during works.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Seasonal planning

No species-specific activity or breeding months were found in the published sources used. Use the following as a works-planning prompt, not as seasonal biology.

Seasonal knowledge: Not documented in the sources used.

The month values are a general planning prompt only and do not represent known activity or breeding months for Euastacus maccai.

  • Plan checks before disturbance: General planning window only. Check the work area before disturbance whenever works are scheduled.

Identification: Appearance

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

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 is known from highland areas along both sides of the Great Dividing Range, across upper catchments in northern New South Wales. The Hastings drainage was confirmed as part of its range in 2014.

It is known from highland areas along both sides of the Great Dividing Range, across upper catchments in northern New South Wales. The Hastings drainage was confirmed as part of its range in 2014.

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

This high-altitude species occupies wet depressions, soaks, springs and other ephemeral wet areas, often away from main flowing water bodies. Its burrows occur beneath green grasses or other terrestrial vegetation and are connected to subsurface water.

This high-altitude species occupies wet depressions, soaks, springs and other ephemeral wet areas, often away from main flowing water bodies. Its burrows occur beneath green grasses or other terrestrial vegetation and are connected to subsurface 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

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

It constructs intricate, extensive burrow systems in terrestrial soils. These burrows can be well above the water table and are not necessarily connected to nearby creeks or other surface water.

It constructs intricate, extensive burrow systems in terrestrial soils. These burrows can be well above the water table and are not necessarily connected to nearby creeks or other surface water.

Threats: Threats

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Threats: Works risk

Ground disturbance or vegetation removal in wet highland habitat could damage burrows and the vegetated ground above them. Works planning should consider ephemeral wet areas and subsurface-water burrow habitat, including sites away from flowing water.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

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

Field surveys in late 2014 documented three new locations in the Hastings drainage and captured two specimens. The species is cryptic, and capture can be difficult because of its burrowing, terrestrial ecology.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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