Freshwater Tiger Crab, Holthuisana tigrina
(Queensland Museum)
Problem:
The Freshwater Tiger
Crab is known only from One Mile Creek, a seasonally-flowing creek 200km from
the sea on Cape York Peninsula. The creek runs through pastoral leasehold and
lies largely within the Alice River Mining Field. Gold mining and collection
for the pet shop trade are foreseeable threats to the welfare of this
crab.
Research:
Research at the
Queensland Museum led to the identification of the crab as a new species, and
its scientific description was published in 1994. This drew attention to the
vulnerable status of the crab given its restricted distribution and the
potential threats to its wellbeing.
Solution:
Determine the status
and requirements of the species and ensure that the population is managed and
conserved. Assess the feasibility of its continued pet shop
trade.
The next species is the Apollo Jewel Butterfly