DNA barcoding reveals new records of invasive terrestrial flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Geoplanidae) in the Macaronesian region

摘要

Oceanic islands harbour a limited richness of native land planarians, likely explained in large part by their inability to survive long periods of immersion in salt water (Winsor et al. 2004). Instead, most land planarians on islands are the result of introductions (e.g. Justine et al. 2018a; b; Lago-Barcia et al. 2020; Suárez et al. 2018; Winsor et al. 2004), likely due to the global trade of plants, as planarians can be inadvertently transported in the humid soil of pots (álvarez-Presas et al. 2014; Winsor et al. 2004). Planarians are generalist predators (Sluys 1999) and a potential threat for native invertebrate fauna. Thus, the group has become of interest with regard to understanding the expansions of species distributions into non-native areas. We report here the presence of three invasive land planarian species within oceanic islands of the Macaronesian region: Obama nungara (Carbayo et al. 2016) (new for the Canary Islands), Caenoplana coerulea (Moseley 1877) (new for Madeira) and Endeavouria septemlineata (Hyman 1939) (new for the Canary Islands and Madeira).