Abstract
Conjoined twins in crustaceans, including crayfish, have been predominantly observed during early developmental stages. However, cases of conjoined twins surviving into juvenile stages are infrequent and often associated with mortality resulting from complications during moulting due to morphological abnormalities. In this study, we present a unique case of marbled crayfish conjoined twins that remained viable for 36 days post-hatch, progressing into the 3rd juvenile stage with the ability to moult. The fused individuals exhibited separate complete anteroposterior body axes, conjoined along the dorsal side of the cephalothorax. Both twins demonstrated successful predation of living nauplii of Artemia salina, their provided food source. Nonetheless, reduced mobility led to the growth of epibionts on their body surface, ultimately hindering the moulting process. This exceptional case sheds light on the prolonged survival and functional capabilities of conjoined twins in crayfish, expanding our understanding of their developmental biology.
Keywords: decapods, developmental aberration, parthenogenesis, genetic anomalies
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