Log In | Register
U.S. crayfish and their British cousins do not get along. First the U.K. was invaded by the American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) carrying the deadly crayfish plague, which has killed 95 percent of Britain’s native white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) over the past 20 years. Now another invasive crayfish species—the virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis), native to the U.S. and Canada—is starting to spread in the rivers around East London. The species also carries crayfish plague.
Disease-Carrying Virile American Crayfish Invade U.K. Rivers
Seeded on Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:13 AM EST
Article Source: Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (1)
The disease, caused by a water mold (Aphanomyces astaci), is a pretty nasty killer. It literally eats a crayfish from the inside out, leaving nothing but an empty shell behind. Death occurs within weeks of infection.
- 1 vote
#1 - Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:14 AM ESTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.
