This paper examines the distribution, habitat and conservation status of five species of the freshwater crayfish genus Euastacus from eastern Australia: E. dalagarbe, E. girurmulayn, E. guruhgi, E. jagabar and E . mirangudjin. Although the five species have discrete distributions, they have similar habitat requirements, occurring only at highland (310-960 m) sites in the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia. They all occur in minor or peripheral habitats (i.e. small tributaries, damp gullies and wet soaks) and are sympatric with the much larger species, E. sulcatus. On the basis of their restricted ranges, E . girurmulayn, E. guruhgi, E. jagabar and E. mirangudjin satisfy the IUCN criteria for listing as ‘Vulnerable’ (VU D2). Euastacus dalagarbe is close to qualifying for listing as vulnerable, and can be considered as ‘Near Threatened’. Potential threats for these species are discussed.

Anthropogenic climate change, cane toads, conservation, crayfishes, highland, hydrology, IUCN, New South Wales
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