Mount Lewis Spiny Crayfish

Fifteen species of spiny mountain crayfish have been identified in Queensland, living in cold, fast-flowing streams. In south-east Queensland, suitably cold habitat is found as low as 250 m. The further north the crayfish are found, the higher their lower limits, until they are found only above 800 m in North Queensland. Each mountain range has its own species of spiny crayfish and genetic samples have confirmed that all have a common ancestor. It is believed that this ancestral crayfish expanded its range into Queensland over 5,000,000 yrs ago, when temperatures were cooler and rainforest more extensive. With climate change came a contraction and fragmentation of forest habitat, resulting in different mountain top populations separating and evolving into different species. The Mount Lewis spiny crayfish (Euastacus fleckeri) is bright blue and red and is active during the day. Look for them in flowing creek crossings.