Engaeus
Engaeus is a genus of freshwater crayfish found in Australia, the burrowing crayfishes. Fifteen of the 35 species in the genus occur in Tasmania, where they are known as the Tasmanian land crayfishes. The behaviour of these crayfish is notable as they live in burrows and construct large "chimneys" at the opening.
| Engaeus | |
|---|---|
| Engaeus cunicularius | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Family: | Parastacidae |
| Genus: | Engaeus Erichson, 1846 |
| Type species | |
| Astacus fossor Erichson, 1846 | |
The burrowing crayfish, in the genus Engaeus, are primarily found in Tasmania with 13 out of 15 species being endemic to the state with the other two species located in Victoria as well as Tasmania. The Engaeus genus is a highly specialized form of freshwater crayfish which is capable of living in tunnel systems in peaty, muddy or wetland environments with the burrows extending down to the water table (an underground level which defines the transition between water saturated ground and non-saturated ground such as the surface) where the water is generally constant.