| Freshwater
Yabby / Crayfish
The Yabby or Freshwater Crayfish is found in
a wide range of aquatic habitats throughout most of
NSW, in wetlands, creeks, rivers and dams. They are
often disguised to look like their surroundings. The
Murray Yabby grows up to 400 mm long.
What they look like:
The Yabby's two front legs are in the shape of large
claws. Used mainly for defence against other yabbies
and predators, they are also used for grasping food
and digging burrows. Besides its claws, yabbies have
four sets of walking legs and a long, thick tail. Some
may have a smooth shell; others are covered in spines.
The tail flap is used to thrust itself quickly through
the water.
Size:
2-400 mm long.
Where they live:
Yabbies live in a wide range of habitats including low-lying
swamps, rivers and dams. Some burrow into the banks.
They are found in waters with high oxygen levels and
plenty of vegetation. Rocks or silted (sandy) water
protect them from predators like the Murray Cod and
Callop fish, and birds like Cormorants, Heron and Ibis.
What they eat:
Yabbies eat anything when they are hungry. This includes
vegetation, fish food, fish, manure of any type, plants,
wood and meat. Yabbies can also be cannibals, eating other
yabbies if there is no other food.
Pollution
tolerance: Tolerant, rating 4
Yabbies are sensitive to chemical pollution, which
harms their delicate gills that they need to breathe.
They can survive a wide range of water temperatures.
However, if water temperatures drop below 16 degrees
Celsius, they fall into a state of partial hibernation
where it stops growing and could die. |
What’s interesting about
the Yabby?
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