"Over the last decade, there has been an increasing number of colourful crayfish sold in the ornamental fish trade in Europe, North America, and Asia under the names Cherax 'Hoa Creek', 'Blue Moon', and 'Irian Jaya' presumed to represent a further undescribed species from New Guinea," - Chris Lukhaup
The species was identified by German scientist Christian Lukhaup, who described the creature in the journal ZooKeys, and although it has been sold commercially since the early 2000s, no one knew what it was or where it came from.
The most common and popular colour forms are a white, blue and violet species, and a greenish grey, blue and white one: "The new species, Cherax pulcher differs from all other crayfish of this subgenus in the shape of its chelae, shape of body and also in its colouration," Lukhaup wrote.
He said there are now 19 known species of Cherax in Indonesia. The latest grows up to 12cm in length and has a wider areola and body shape compared to its closest relative morphologically.
IBTimes
