Common yabby
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The common yabby, Cherax destructor, is an Australian freshwater crustacean. It is in the Parastacidae family. It is listed as a vulnerable species of crayfish by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).[1] But wild yabby populations remain strong, and have expanded into new habitats created by reservoirs and farm dams.[2]
Its common name of "yabby" is also applied to many other Australian Cherax species of crustacean. The name is also applied marine ghost shrimp of the infra-order Thalassinidea. Yabbies occasionally reach up to 30 cm (12 in) in length but are more commonly 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long.[3]
Colour is highly variable and depends on water clarity (how clear it is) and habitat. Yabbies can range from black, blue-black or dark brown in clear waters to light brown, green-brown or beige in dark waters.[4] Yabbies specifically bred to be a vibrant blue colour are now popular in the aquarium trade in Australia.
Common Yabby Media
Week-old yabby eggs, 2–3 mm, attached by minute hairs to underside of female abdomen, CSIRO
References
- ↑ Crayfish in Europe as Alien Species, eds. Francesca Gherardi; David M. Holdich (Rotterdam, Netherlands: A.A. Balkema, 1999), p. 119
- ↑ "Yabby". Native Fish Australia. 20 September 2006. Archived from the original on 9 December 2006. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ↑ Craig Williams. "Cherax destructor". Archived from the original on 2006-12-01. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
- ↑ Chris Goerner. "Cherax destructor". Archived from the original on 2007-04-29. Retrieved 2014-02-18.