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Androdioecy Inferred In The Clam Shrimp Eulimnadia Agassizii (Spinicaudata : Limnadiidae), Stephen Weeks, Ryan Posagi, Michele Cesari, Franca Scanabissi

Stephen C. Weeks

Androdioecy (mixtures of males and hermaphrodites) is a rare mating system in both the plant and animal kingdoms. Androdioecy has been described in three branchiopod species, and is best known from the clam shrimp Eulimnadia texana Packard. Herein we describe sex ratio, genetic and histological evidence from the clam shrimp Eulimnadia agassizii Packard that suggest androdioecy is also found in this species. The E. agassizii population sampled had all-females, and when these females were isolated and allowed to produce eggs, those eggs yielded 100% female offspring in 15 out of 15 cases. Additionally, the originally isolated females proved to be …