Even one tardigrade is enough. Molecular methods revealed presence of pantropical species Echiniscus lineatus (Heterotardigrada, Echiniscidae) in the fauna of Seychelles

Abstract

A brief report on the tardigrade species Echiniscus lineatus discovered in a moss cushion collected in Seychelles is given. The species represents a new pantropical element in the tardigrade fauna of Seychelles. With this record the number of echiniscid tardigrade species in Seychelles has reached five. Morphological identification of the species is supported with the analysis of obtained sequences of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA barcode genes (ITS-1, ITS-2 and COI). Analysis of the genetic data using the method of TCS haplotype networks revealed separated position of the Seychellian population of E. lineatus and supported the hypothesis of independent colonisation of Seychelles.