The Walpole Burrowing Crayfish is a small burrowing crayfish up to 50 mm in length. It generally has a pale to mid-brown colour with purplish-blue claws. The narrow abdomen is often shorter than the head and thorax. Other distinguishing features are the reduced eye size, large claws adapted to digging, and the fingers of the claws move in a vertical plane.
Walpole Burrowing Crayfish |
Engaewa walpolea
Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Engaewa walpolea
The main potential threats to existing populations of Walpole Burrowing Crayfish populations in Walpole Nornalup National Park are reduced rainfall from climate change; feral pigs (Sus scrofa) and fire (Burnham; 2005 Barnham et al.; 2007).
Reduced rainfall from climate change may lead to the drying out and loss of swamp and drainage system habitats. -
Australian Government, Listing Advice, Engaewa walpolea
Potential threats to extant Walpole Burrowing Crayfish populations within Walpole Nornalup National Park include reduced rainfall from climate change; feral pigs (Sus scrofa) and fire.
Reduced rainfall from climate change may lead to the drying out and loss of swamp and drainage system habitats.
The Committee further judges this geographic distribution to be precarious for the survival of the species; given the species naturally limited; fragmented swamp habitats and potential threats such as reduced rainfall from climate change; feral pigs and fire.
The extant populations are subject to a number of potential threats; such as reduced rainfall from climate change; feral pigs and fire.
The Committee also accepts the species geographic distribution is precarious for its survival; given its naturally limited; fragmented swamp habitats and potential threats such as reduced rainfall from climate change; feral pigs and fire.