Reproductive biology of the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) (Decapoda: Astacidea: Cambaridae): A review

Abstract

Abstract The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) is an alien invasive species as well as a commercially exploited animal. The sterile-male-release technique (SMRT) using infertile but sexually active males has been an effective candidate measure to control this invasive crayfish. Additionally, the limited supply of juveniles due to females’ spawning seasonality hinders the further development of the P. clarkii aquaculture industry. Information on its reproductive biology, such mating strategies and factors affecting offspring production, is crucial for developing an effective SMRT and aquaculture systems for P. clarkii. We review the reproductive biology of this species in terms of 1) sexual dimorphism and reproductive status, 2) sex recognition, mating, and mate preferences, and 3) egg production, embryonic development, and hatching. Intra- and intersexual dimorphisms of chelae are evident in P. clarkii, and a reproductive morphotype (form I) with larger chelae and a non-reproductive morphotype (form II) with smaller chelae are detected in both females and males, allowing us to easily determine the reproductive status of both sexes. The crayfish exhibits mutual mate choice (i.e., preference for larger mates), and small-sized males reproductive potential is low. Female fitness (i.e., number of offspring) generally depends on their body size. Female brood care appears to promote early embryo development before the egg-nauplius stage. Further study is required to identify the maternal factors affecting early embryonic development, which may improve measures for controlling invasive populations and enhancing aquaculture productivity.