Sea-level fluctuations and the distributions of some freshwater crayfishes of the genus Engaeus (Decapoda; Parastacidae) in the Bass Strait

Abstract

The effect of past sea-level fluctuations on the distribution of one species of freshwater crayfish, Engaeus cunicularius, which occurs in coastal areas on both sides of Bass Strait and on several Bass Strait islands, is discussed. A model is proposed to explain the way in which successive rising and falling of sea levels has contributed to the distributions and speciation of some species in the genus Engaeus, and the implications of the model are outlined. Bass Strait is not considered to have acted as a complete barrier to freshwater organisms during periods of lowered sea levels.