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Astacopsis Gouldi

Astacopsis Gouldi / The Tasmanian Giant

Astacopsis Gouldi
A. Gouldi
The Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Crayfish
Giant Freshwater Crayfish
The Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Lobster
Giant Freshwater Lobster

Kingdom:     Animalia
Phylum:     Arthropoda
Subphylum:     Crustacea
Class:     Malacostraca
Order:     Decapoda
Family:     Parastacidae
Genus:     Astacopsis
Species:     Astacopsis Gouldi

Local Name : The Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Crayfish /  The Tasmanian Giant Freshwater  Lobster

Habitat : The Arthur River in Tasmania's north-west across the north of the state to include all rivers flowing into the Bass Strait, Tasmanian, Big River Tasmania, Australia

Water Temperature : 0 - 24 derajat celcius

Size in Natural : Up to 5 Kilogram (11 lb) in weight and over 80 centimetres (31 in) long

Age : surviving for up to 40 years

The Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi) is the largest freshwater invertebrate in the world. The species is only found in Tasmania (an Australian island), and is listed as a vulnerable species due to habitat loss and over fishing. It is also severely threatened by siltation and de-snagging of streams as decaying wood forms the favourite part of its diet. It is not known if the animals are nourished by the wood, the bacteria, algae or invertebrates living in the rotting logs. They also eat leaves, fish and other meat, including other freshwater invertebrates.

Individuals of over 5 kilograms (11 lb) in weight and over 80 centimetres (31 in) long have been known in the past, but now, even individuals over 2 kilograms (4.4 lb) are rare.The species is only found in Tasmanian rivers flowing north into the Bass Strait (with the exception of the Tamar) below 400 metres (1,300 ft) above sea level, and is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List. The specific epithet gouldi commemorates the Australian naturalist John Gould.

Astacopsis Gouldi is very long-lived, surviving for up to 40 years. Their main predators are humans, platypus, river blackfish and rakali.

Astacopsis Gouldi is territorial. Males maintain a harem of several females. They reproduce slowly, with the result that unregulated recreational fishing of this species has had a great impact on its abundance, and also explains why the largest individuals now found are smaller than previously. This species was listed as "vulnerable" under Australian law in 1995, and it is now illegal to catch A. gouldi without a permit, carrying a maximum fine of A$10,000.

Astacopsis Gouldi Map