Sutton's Crayfish
Euastacus suttoni
Australia's Threatened Species Category
Endangered
Listed since:
IUCN's Threatened Species Category
Vulnerable
Listed since:
Listed since:
Description
Description
The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derive from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.
Description
Sutton's Crayfish is a spiny species of freshwater crayfish and is one of the larger species and is endemic so southern Queensland and the northern region of New South Wales. Sutton�s Crayfish is known to burrown down to access ground water in the absence of surface water.
Threats
Climate change is a key threat to Sutton�s crayfish, with the species having limited capacity to relocate to higher, cooler altitudes, or overland to other nearby suitably cool habitat. The restricted distribution of this species puts all individuals in the population at considerable risk of extirpation by events, such as extreme flooding, extensive fires or disease impacting the species across its range. This species is known to be impacted by agricultural practices including clearing of vegetation, cattle farming, plus recreational activities including
collecting gemstones.
Quollity Conservation Hub's Vulnerability Score:
Heading 6
To help compare the relative vulnerability of different species, we have developed a scoring system based on biological and ecological characteristics that influence a species' ability to survive and recover from environmental change and natural disasters.
The framework is adapted from assessment methods used by conservation experts following the Black Summer bushfires to help identify species most in need of conservation action, research, and recovery funding.
Each species is assessed using a range of factors, including its conservation status, lifespan, reproductive rate, habitat and dietary requirements, ability to disperse or recover after fire, and the number and severity of threats it faces.
In general, the higher a species' score, the greater its overall vulnerability and risk of decline or extinction.
Like all conservation assessments, this scoring system is limited by the information currently available. Many threatened species remain poorly studied and receive limited research funding, meaning some assessments rely on the best available scientific knowledge or information from closely related species. As new research becomes available, scores may be updated to reflect our improved understanding.
Average life span:
Number of young produced each year:
Number of breeding events each year:
Minmum sexual maturity age:
Who is helping
DCCEEW - Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
SPRAT - DCCEEW Species Profile and Threats Database