American swamp crayfish detected in Leipzig

The American swamp crayfish has settled in Leipzig. According to a press release, researchers at the Leipzig Museum of Natural History have detected the invasive crayfish species in the city for the first time. The museum warns of an "alarming discovery with far-reaching ecological consequences".

The American red swamp crayfish has been on the rise in Germany for several years, particularly in Berlin, where it has been spreading rapidly since its discovery in 2017. It transmits crayfish plague, which is harmless to itself but deadly to native crayfish. It also poses a threat to amphibians and molluscs.

Its extreme adaptability and high reproduction rate make it a serious competitor for native species and a threat to the ecological balance.

First specimens discovered in Leipzig in 2024

How the marsh crayfish came to Saxony is still unclear. As early as 2024, researchers recovered 25 animals of different ages following a tip-off in Leipzig. In May, the next evidence followed in another body of water in Leipzig. According to the museum, this indicates that the species is beginning to spread. This is the third crayfish from the European list of invasive species to be found in Leipzig, after the camber crayfish and the marbled crayfish.

The museum is asking for help in documenting the spread and developing protective measures. Anyone who spots crayfish in the Leipzig or Saxony area is asked to report the find - preferably with a photo so that the researchers can identify the species.