Австралиялық өзен рагы (Cherax destructor) туралы мәліметтер

Species of crayfish

The common yabby (Cherax destructor) is an Australian freshwater crustacean in the Parastacidae family. It is listed as a vulnerable species

Other names frequently used for Cherax destructor include the blue yabby or cyan yabby. Its common name of "yabby" is also applied to many other Australian Cherax species of crustacean (as well as to marine ghost shrimp of the infraorder Thalassinidea). Yabbies occasionally reach up to in length, but are more commonly long. Colour is highly variable and depends on water clarity and habitat; yabbies can range from black, blue black, or dark brown in clear waters to light brown, green brown, or beige in turbid waters. Yabbies specifically bred to be a vibrant blue colour are now popular in the aquarium trade in Australia. During a wet season, an Australian yabby can travel kilometres across land in search of new water in which to make its home. The word "yabby" comes from Wemba Wemba, an Aboriginal Australian language.

Yabbies are common in Victoria and New South Wales, although the species also occurs in southern Queensland, South Australia, throughout parts of the Northern Territory and even as low as Tasmania, making it the most widespread Australian crayfish. It has been introduced to Western Australia, where it is an invasive species and poses a threat to other Cherax crayfish species native to the region, such as gilgies (Cherax quinquecarinatus). Yabbies are found in swamps, streams, rivers, reservoirs, and farm dams at low to medium elevations. Yabbies apparently were largely restricted to lower altitude habitats in inland areas of south eastern Australia including the Murray Darling Basin before European settlement, with the Euastacus spiny crayfish species found in higher altitude habitats and the coastal river systems. High altitude yabby populations in Lakes Eucumbene and Jindabyne, on the upper reaches of the coastal Snowy River system, are unusual and may be translocated. Yabbies are found in many ephemeral waterways, and can survive dry conditions for several years by lying dormant in burrows sunk deep into muddy creek and swamp beds. Yabbies are primarily nocturnal detritivores, feeding primarily on algae and plant remains at night, but also opportunistically feeding on any fish or animal remains they encounter at any time of day. In Southern Australia, it is commonly accepted that yabbies are active and thereby available to catch during the warmer months. (Colloquially, any month with the letter "R" in it.) When temperatures fall below 16 °C (61 °F), they enter a state of reduced metabolic activity, or "partial hibernation". it is illegal to catch over 200 yabbies a day. All females carrying eggs under their tails must be returned to the water.

While less common than prawns and other crustaceans, yabbies are eaten in Australia much like crayfish in other countries. Usually, yabbies are boiled and eaten plain, or with condiments. They are also occasionally served at restaurants, where they may be prepared in salads, ravioli, pasta, etc. Prior to cooking, it is advisable to 'purge' the yabby in clean water, this helps to clear the gut of any muddy flavour, resulting in sweeter tasting meat. In New South Wales, yabbies can be sold live at some fish markets such as Sydney Fish Market. In Victoria, whole yabbies can be purchased cooked and ready to eat at Queen Victoria Market.