Invertebrate ecologist and club member Emily Crick will speak about burrowing crayfish. Em works under specialist Dr Beverley Van Praagh to conduct site assessments and surveys for various subterranean invertebrates, with a particular focus on the Warragul burrowing crayfish and the giant Gippsland earthworm. Em will speak about crayfish habitat, species characteristics, survey methods, how to distinguish between species, and key threatening processes.
Warragul burrowing crayfish are a critically endangered species of terrestrial or land-dwelling cray. They’re found only in around 30 square kilometres of west Gippsland, a very small footprint compared to other animals in the area. While many locals are familiar with the mud 'chimneys' that burrowing crayfish make, Warragul burrowing cray chimneys tend to be very small, short and made of pea-sized balls of mud and are often found in clusters. Although there are multiple ‘common’ species of burrowing crayfish, Warragul burrowing cray are significantly smaller, are mainly tan in colour, sport a small tail and uniquely ‘beady’ eyes.

Held at the Moe Library, 29 George St Moe and on Zoom. Contact info@lvfieldnats.org for a link.

Image: © Em Crick, iNaturalist.