White-clawed crayfish

White clawed crayfish

This is the UK’s only native crayfish. Unfortunately it has seen substantial declines, due to being pushed out by the larger, non-native signal crayfish, which out-competes it and also spreads a fatal disease. The white-clawed crayfish is now classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. It inhabits small, clear streams, particularly chalk streams, and is present in some stretches of river in the Stour Valley, where KSCP have undertaken in-river works to improve habitats for it.

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