Cryptic genetic lineages in Eisenia nordenskioldi pallida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae)

•Five cryptic genetic lineages were detected within Eisenia nordenskioldi pallida.•These lineages have different distributions.•Distributions of lineages 2–5 probably reflect allopatric divergence.•Lineage 1 of E. n. pallida is the first peregrine lineage of E. nordenskioldi.

Eisenia nordenskioldi pallida Malevič 1956 (Lumbricidae, Annelida) is widely distributed in various climatic zones of Northern Asia. To study its genetic variation, we collected specimens of this taxon from various populations throughout its distribution and sequenced mitochondrial (cox1) and nuclear (ITS2) loci. Five cryptic genetic lineages were detected in our sample. Lineage 1 was found widespread from West Siberia to Kamchatka, exhibited a low genetic diversity and was mainly confined to anthropogenic habitats, suggesting a rapid dispersion. Lineages 2 and 3 were found in the south of the Russian Far East; lineage 4 in Yakutia, and lineage 5 in Kazakhstan. E. n. pallida, in contrast to the nominative subspecies is often abundant in agricultural lands.The high genetic diversity detected in E. n. pallida mirrors previous findings in E. n. nordenskioldi. Such a high number of cryptic lineages uncovered in the two subspecies call for a close examination of their status as potential species, possibly with the help of additional markers, and for additional molecular genetic investigation of either type specimen of these subspecies or of the topotypical populations.