Marbled crayfish are multiplying without male partner

    • According to the new study published in ‘Nature, Ecology and Evolution’, marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) are multiplying rapidly and invading ecosystems across the world.
    • This ten-legged pests are descended from one single female with a mutation allowing it to reproduce without males. Due its multiplying behaviour some scientists are calling it as a Self-cloning crayfish.
    • In north America it is illegal to keep them as a pets. Even European Union has banned this six-inch creature.
    • According to the researchers, the original marbled crayfish had an additional set of chromosomes – a mutation that made her distinct from her parents and allowed her to reproduce without having to mate.
    • Originally hailing from Florida, the marbled crayfish can be found now in the wild in Japan, Madagascar, multiple European countries and the US.
    • This species are now threat to seven native species in Madagascar.




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