The enigmatic Marmorkrebs (marbled crayfish) is the parthenogenetic form of Procambarus fallax (Hagen, 1870)

Abstract

A mysterious parthenogenetic cambarid crayfish (the Marmorkrebs) has been spreading across the globe for the past decade. We compare this crayfish directly to two other cambarids, Procambarus fallax and P. alleni, that have been suggested to be related or even identical to the Marmorkrebs. Using external morphology and sequences of two mitochondrial genes we show clear correspondences between Marmorkrebs and P. fallax, a species found natively throughout peninsular Florida, USA. Based on these congruent results we suggest that the Marmorkrebs is the parthenogenetic form of P. fallax. This finding has potential evolutionary and ecological implications at several levels. The Marmorkrebs might be a type of geographical parthenogenesis, but a natural population in the wild is so far unknown. Furthermore, challenges arise in regard to the respective species status of the Marmorkrebs. Taxonomically we suggest that the Marmorkrebs is treated as ‘parthenogenetic form’ of P. fallax. Last but not least, the identity of this animal and its ecology has an impact for considering potential spread and effects of this species across the globe.

Managing invasive crayfish: is there a hope?

“…2006/656/EC concerning health conditions and certification requirements for imports of ornamental fish only. Today, it is extremely easy to buy, via aquarium trade fairs and internet sales, NICS for ornamental use, as shown in the case of both the marbled crayfish (Nonnis Peay 2009), a North American species recently identified as a parthenogenetic form of Procambarus fallax (Martin et al 2010), and the Australian red-claw crayfish C. quadricarinatus in the UK (Peay 2009). At present, in some European countries sale of NICS is legal and an aquarium wholesaler can sell NICS to anyone in Sweden, Ireland or other countries where the species are banned.…”

Suitability of the clonal marbled crayfish for biogerontological research: a review and perspective, with remarks on some further crustaceans

“…Its basic biology is rather well investigated Seitz et al 2005;Alwes and Scholtz 2006;Rieger and Harzsch 2008;Vogt 2008b, c;Farca Luna et al 2009Kawai et al 2009). Just recently it has been shown that the marbled crayfish is a parthenogenetic form of the slough crayfish Procambarus fallax (Hagen 1870; Martin et al 2010). This cambarid species is native to Florida and south Georgia and occurs in wetland, stream, ditch and pond habitats (Dorn and Volin 2009).…”

Marmorkrebs: Natural crayfish clone as emerging model for various biological disciplines

“…The marbled crayfish belongs to the decapod crustaceans, which include the commercially valuable shrimps, lobsters, crayfish and crabs. It was discovered in the mid-1990s in the German aquarium trade (Scholtz et al 2003;) and has only recently been identified as the parthenogenetic form of the slough crayfish, Procambarus fallax (HAGEN, 1870), which is native to Georgia and Florida, USA (Martin et al 2010a). Its scientific name is therefore Procambarus fallax (HAGEN, 1870) f. virginalis (Martin et al 2010a).…”

“…It was discovered in the mid-1990s in the German aquarium trade (Scholtz et al 2003;) and has only recently been identified as the parthenogenetic form of the slough crayfish, Procambarus fallax (HAGEN, 1870), which is native to Georgia and Florida, USA (Martin et al 2010a). Its scientific name is therefore Procambarus fallax (HAGEN, 1870) f. virginalis (Martin et al 2010a). The marbled crayfish is the only one of more than 10000 decapods that produces high amounts of genetically identical offspring by obligatory parthenogenesis (Martin et al 2007;Vogt et al 2008).…”