Identifying Freshwater Crayfish in South West WA

Closer View	Closer View	Closer View	Closer View
click on the links above to see a closer view

Freshwater crayfish are an important part of ecosystems in South West rivers and dams and are also one of Western Australia's great delicacies. There are more than 100 species of crayfish native to Australia, and at least seven species are commonly caught by recreational fishers in the streams and dams of southern WA. Other smaller crayfish species may also be seen by recreational fishers, tourists and bushwalkers in different locations.

Identifying crayfish species is very easy if you have all species present. However, most people are usually trying to identify a single animal. Many people are unaware that so many species are commonly found in South West waters, and common names (like ‘yabby') have often been used by mistake to describe freshwater crayfish in general. This brochure will assist recreational fishers and other people to identify the commonly seen freshwater crayfish of the South West; marron, koonacs, gilgies and yabbies.

Crayfish from different regions or different areas can often be quite different in appearance. There is even evidence that marron from within the same waterway can look quite different. This brochure will help to identify each species of crayfish correctly by using a simple key, photographs and drawings to highlight the features which make each crayfish species unique. Once you have used this guide a couple of times, and have looked at the four major groups of freshwater crayfish in the South West, you will quickly become an expert at identifying WA's freshwater crayfish!

Scientists who classify plants and animals (called taxonomists) are trained in looking for differences among animals which look somewhat similar. For ease in telling species apart, taxonomists produce ‘identification keys'. These keys provide two choices of information about a feature of the animal you are looking at. A simple key that has been specifically designed for the public to help classify crayfish in the South West of WA is provided in this online guide.