Cherax, commonly known as yabby/yabbies in Australia, is the most widespread genus of fully aquatic crayfish in the Southern Hemisphere.

Members of the cherax genus can be found in lakes, rivers, and streams across most of Australia and New Guinea.

It is generally found in lowland rivers and streams, lakes, swamps, and impoundments at low to medium altitude, largely within the Murray–Darling Basin.

Common yabbies are found in many ephemeral waterways, and can survive dry conditions for long periods of time (at least several years) by aestivating (lying dormant) in burrows sunk deep into muddy creek and swamp beds.

Females tend to choose males with a larger central mass (abdomen and tail) and cheliped.

[8] Unlike other crayfish species, the Cherax dispar does not use its cheliped to cage females during copulation.