Presence of the Australian redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1868) (Parastacidae, Astacoidea) in a freshwater system in the Caribbean drainage of Costa Rica

摘要

Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1868) was first introduced into Costa Rica during 1985. Currently there areaquaculture holding facilities for this species in the Costa Rican Pacific drainage. This study is the first to report the presenceof C. quadricarinatus in natural freshwater systems at the Caribbean drainage of Costa Rica. This may has been the result ofaccidental releases of this non-native crayfish from holding facilities. Future surveys are needed to assess the effects of thiscrayfish on the freshwater systems of Costa Rica and its communities.