Sequence alignment collected of Melbourne H2 and H17 samples.

<b>a.</b> Sequence alignment using 16S rDNA fragment show the two species in Clade I – H2 (Panama) and H17 (Purple panels). H17 and H2 can be distinguished by single base pair variations and a 13bp gap in the 16S rDNA sequence. All sampled H2 and H17 haplotypes from Melbourne that were sequenced with 16S rDNA revealed identical sequences with the previously documented H2 and H17 species respectively. <b>b.</b> 16S rDNA fragment PCR products revealed two bands that were shorter in length compared with the other placozoan sequences indicating potential new haplotype H20. Each lane represents rDNA from a single placozoan sample with the following haplotypes identified: PH1041 – H2, PH1043 – H2, PH1045 – H2, PH1047 – H2, PH1051 – H2, PH1053 – H2, PH1037 - H20, PH1055 – H2, PH1059 -H2, PH1064 – H2, PH1062 – H2, PH1063 – H2, PH1061 – H2, PH1039 – H20, PH1065- H2, PH1066 – H2. (PDF)