Biologists are monitoring an Australian crayfish that surprisingly showed up in Texas, fearing it could threaten local wildlife and ecosystems. How did it get there?

The invasive Australian Redclaw “Crayfish” — identifiable by its large size and the red patch on its claws — is currently only found in the Brownsville area.

Researchers have in some ways only just begun to study the Australian redclaw crawfish's effects on South Texas, but do suspect their range may be limited.

An Australian redclaw crayfish, a species native to Australia, was spotted by locals in the Rio Grande Valley near Brownsville, Texas.

Locals in southern Texas reported an “interesting-looking critter” that officials found to be an invasive crayfish species that is “not supposed to be in Texas,” Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist Archis Grubh said in a PBS segment on Feb. 9.

This species of crayfish has been called invasive by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department after it showed up along Texas beaches. What is it?