Two new species ofEuastacus(Decapoda: Parastacidae) from the Gondwana Rainforests of central eastern Australia

Researchers have identified two new species of crayfish, Euastacus binzayedi and Euastacus angustus, within the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. These species, distinguished by unique morphological traits such as dorsal and ventral chelae protrusions in E. binzayedi and a laterally compressed body with prominent ventromesial carpal spine in E. angustus, exhibit significant genetic divergence from closely related species, with estimates of 4.8% and 8.7%, respectively. Both species are exceptionally rare, known only from single localities. The study highlights the biodiversity richness of the Gondwana Rainforests while emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to protect these newly discovered taxa.

Furse, J., Dawkins, K., & Coughran, J. (2013). Two new species ofEuastacus(Decapoda: Parastacidae) from the Gondwana Rainforests of central eastern Australia. Freshwater Crayfish, 19(1), 103–112. https://doi.org/10.5869/fc.2013.v19.103