Crustacean Invasion! Texas Coast Plagued with Foreign Crayfish

Fire up the grill and get out the butter! The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has voiced concern for this invasive crayfish species washing up on the state's coastline.

What are Australian Redclaw Crayfish?

These invasive crustaceans are called Australian redclaw crayfish and can grow up to 10 inches in length. Just look at this beauty!

As the name suggests, these creatures are native to Australia, shedding more light on the surprise at finding them along the coast of Texas.

Redclaw crayfish can be best identified by--you guessed it--the red underneath their claws! They also have four distinct ridges that span the length of their dorsal surface (tail).

They are mostly found in freshwater creeks in the Northern Territory of Australia. My favorite fact? Females produce up to 1000 eggs per brood, with three to five broods per season.

Why are Redclaw Crayfish Invasive?

The reason the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department consider this species to be invasive is due to the heightened risk of affecting the native fish and crayfish species.

The government agency has been funding efforts in researching the amount of these invasive creatures in Texas waters for fear of them growing more and more in an unchecked environment.

The problem is that if these non-native (invasive) crayfish grow in population in Texas, they could affect the food chain by displacing native species that are food for numerous types of mammals, fish, and birds.

Officials reportedly consider Australian redclaw crayfish a top predator because they are known to eat practically anything in their path, including native crayfish.

So, the next time you are roaming the Texas coastline and see one of these guys:

Immediately report it to the TPWD!