Scientists have identified Australian red claw crayfish in Texas waters, raising concerns about the potential ecological damage caused by invasive species introduced through aquarium dumping.
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Biologists in Texas have found Australian redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) in the Rio Grande Valley. This has made people worry about how they might affect local fish and plants. These big crustaceans, about the size of lobsters, are usually found in Australia and Papua New Guinea. They probably got here by aquariums dumped in rivers, which is becoming a bigger problem in the U.S.
Scientists from the University of Texas at Tyler and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department started investigating after people near Brownsville said they saw the strange species. Redclaw crayfish can weigh up to 2 pounds and be almost 10 inches long, which makes them strong hunters who can mess up ecosystems.
Lance Williams, a conservation scientist at UT Tyler, said, "These crayfish are wrong to be in Texas." The warm temperature of the state is a lot like their natural habitat, which helps them do well and might even help them beat out native species.
When people dump useless pets from aquariums into the wild, this is called "dumping." Experts say this can bring invasive species that spread disease and hurt local ecosystems. TexasInvasives.org warns that dumping tank animals can have terrible results.
Scientists are now keeping an eye on the red claw community to see what long-term effects it will have. Archis Grubh, an invertebrate biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, said, "We don't know how it will affect native fish and crayfish species yet."
