Common Freshwater & Terrestrial Crustaceans

From garden slaters, forest hoppers, and freshwater shrimps... to spiny mountain crayfishes – Queensland has a wealth of non-marine crustaceans.

Overview

Queensland has a diverse range of freshwater and terrestrial environments, from outback deserts to tropical rainforests. Although crustaceans are primarily a marine group, there are many species of freshwater crayfish and crabs. Desert specialists, such as the remarkable Shield Shrimp, have eggs that can survive many years in the parched desert clay before hatching in their thousands when the rains finally come.

Common freshwater and terrestrial crustaceans of Queensland include:

Forest Hopper or "Carpet Prawn" (Talitroides topitotum)
Garden Slater (Porcellionides pruinosus)
Shield Shrimp (Triops australiensis)
Inland Freshwater Crab (Austrothelphusa transversa)
Freshwater Tiger Crab (Austrothelphusa tigrina)
Inland Yabby (Cherax destructor)
Orange-fingered Yabby (Cherax depressus)
Redclaw (Cherax quadricarinatus)
Sand Yabby (Cherax robustus)
Swamp Crayfish (Tenuibranchiurus glypticus)
Lamington Spiny Crayfish (Euastacus sulcatus)

Common questions

Terrestrial amphipods are tiny shrimp-like crustaceans that are common in suburban environments under logs and leaf litter. They are commonly referred to as ‘lawn prawns’ or ‘carpet prawns’ because, after rain periods, they can emerge in the hundreds to invade carpets, lawns, pet bowls and swimming pools.

A number of crustaceans are adapted to life in dry environments. For example, shield shrimps such as Triops australiensis live in inland regions, and their populations explode after rains. They can then be found teeming in temporary pools and water-filled clay pans. Another example is the Inland Freshwater Crab, Austrothelphusa transversa. This crab occurs in semi-arid regions of central and northern Australia, where it constructs burrows up to a metre in depth in the banks of rivers, creeks, and ponds.

Australia has two major types of freshwater crayfish – the smooth and the spiny. Smooth crays, such as Cherax species, are relatively common in lowland rivers and streams. However, spiny crays, such as Euastacus species, are restricted to mountainous regions, where they construct burrows near watercourses.

Fact sheets

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https://collections.qm.qld.gov.au/topics/113/forest-hopper-lawn-hopper-or-carpet-prawn

Forest Hopper, Lawn Hopper, or Carpet Prawn

The Forest Hopper, Lawn Hopper or Carpet Prawn is a small amphipod with a narrow elongated body that is flattened from side-to-side.

Learn more

https://collections.qm.qld.gov.au/topics/251/sand-yabby

Sand Yabby

The Sand Yabby is semi-aquatic and burrows around the perimeter of sand lakes or along small creeks. It is restricted to coastal south-eastern Queensland as far north as Fraser Island.

Learn more

https://collections.qm.qld.gov.au/topics/262/swamp-crayfish

Swamp Crayfish

The Swamp Crayfish is one of the world's smallest crayfish, being fully grown at 25 millimetres. Originally recorded from Bulimba Creek, Mt Gravatt, but rarely found in the Brisbane city area since 1951.

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Images

Powerful Spiny Crayfish, Euastacus valentulus. Image: Queensland Museum, Bruce Cowell.
Lamington Spiny Crayfish, Euastacus sulcatus. Image: Queensland Museum, Jeff Wright.
Slender Yabby, Cherax dispar. Image: Queensland Museum, Bruce Cowell.
Common Australian River Prawn, Macrobrachium australiense. Image: Queensland Museum, Jeff Wright.
Garden Slater, Porcellionides pruinosus. Image: Queensland Museum, Jeff Wright.
Swamp Crayfish, Tenuibranchiurus glypticus. Image: Queensland Museum, Bruce Cowell.
Redclaw, Cherax quadricarinatus. Image: Queensland Museum, Jeff Wright.
Obscure Brush-fingered Shrimp, Caridina indistincta (complex). Image: Queensland Museum, Jeff Wright.
Powerful Spiny Crayfish, Euastacus valentulus. Image: Queensland Museum, Bruce Cowell.
Lamington Spiny Crayfish, Euastacus sulcatus. Image: Queensland Museum, Jeff Wright.