Marmorkrebs
Encyclopedia
, or marbled crayfish, are parthenogenetic
crayfish
that were discovered in the pet trade
in Germany
in the 1990s. are closely related to the "slough crayfish", Procambarus fallax. Procambarus fallax is widely distributed across Florida, but there are no known natural populations of Marmorkrebs. Information provided by one of the original pet traders as to where they got Marmorkrebs was deemed "totally confusing and unreliable".
crustacean
s to reproduce by parthenogenesis
. All individuals are female, and the offspring are genetically identical to the parent. Because are genetically identical, easy to care for, and reproduce at high rates, they are a potential model organism
, particularly for studying development
. A major drawback, however, is the long generation time (several months) compared to other research organisms.
because only a single individual is needed to establish a new population, and they can reproduce at high rates. They have since been introduced into natural ecosystems on three continents. They have been found in the wild in Germany
, Italy
, The Netherlands, Madagascar
, and Japan
, probably through release or escape from aquaria.
Although most reports of in the wild in Europe have consisted of only single individuals, an established population has now been documented in Germany, with reports of a second population in another German locale.
The Madagascar population is growing rapidly, causing concern among local authorities.
Although there are no confirmed cases of being found in the wild in North America, they are widely distributed among hobbyists in the North American pet trade. Due to concerns about the possible damage caused by the introduction of , Missouri
added them to its prohibited species list.
Parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by a male...
crayfish
Crayfish
Crayfish, crawfish, or crawdads – members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea – are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related...
that were discovered in the pet trade
Fishkeeping
Fishkeeping is a popular hobby concerned with keeping fish in a home aquarium or garden pond. There is also a fishkeeping industry, as a branch of agriculture.-Types of fishkeeping systems:...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the 1990s. are closely related to the "slough crayfish", Procambarus fallax. Procambarus fallax is widely distributed across Florida, but there are no known natural populations of Marmorkrebs. Information provided by one of the original pet traders as to where they got Marmorkrebs was deemed "totally confusing and unreliable".
Model organism
are the only known decapodDecapoda
The decapods or Decapoda are an order of crustaceans within the class Malacostraca, including many familiar groups, such as crayfish, crabs, lobsters, prawns and shrimp. Most decapods are scavengers. It is estimated that the order contains nearly 15,000 species in around 2,700 genera, with...
crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
s to reproduce by parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by a male...
. All individuals are female, and the offspring are genetically identical to the parent. Because are genetically identical, easy to care for, and reproduce at high rates, they are a potential model organism
Model organism
A model organism is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the organism model will provide insight into the workings of other organisms. Model organisms are in vivo models and are widely used to...
, particularly for studying development
Developmental biology
Developmental biology is the study of the process by which organisms grow and develop. Modern developmental biology studies the genetic control of cell growth, differentiation and "morphogenesis", which is the process that gives rise to tissues, organs and anatomy.- Related fields of study...
. A major drawback, however, is the long generation time (several months) compared to other research organisms.
Invasive species
have caused concern as a potential invasive speciesInvasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
because only a single individual is needed to establish a new population, and they can reproduce at high rates. They have since been introduced into natural ecosystems on three continents. They have been found in the wild in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, The Netherlands, Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, probably through release or escape from aquaria.
Although most reports of in the wild in Europe have consisted of only single individuals, an established population has now been documented in Germany, with reports of a second population in another German locale.
The Madagascar population is growing rapidly, causing concern among local authorities.
Although there are no confirmed cases of being found in the wild in North America, they are widely distributed among hobbyists in the North American pet trade. Due to concerns about the possible damage caused by the introduction of , Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
added them to its prohibited species list.