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- 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.
