15 Jun 2018

Critter of the Week Amarinus lacustris - freshwater crabs

From Afternoons, 3:27 pm on 15 June 2018
Fresh Water Crabs - Amarinus lacustris

Fresh Water Crabs - Amarinus lacustris Photo: CC BY-SA 4.0 Stella McQ

Far smaller than even our 10c coin, the only freshwater crab in New Zealand has to avoid being eaten by introduced trout. 

However, DOC’s Threatened Species Ambassador, Nicola Toki, explains that the trout have to be able to find the crabs in the murky waters that they prefer to inhabit.

Fresh Water Crabs  - Amarinus lacustris

Fresh Water Crabs - Amarinus lacustris Photo: Jeremy Rolfe