The importance of naming cryptic species and the conservation of endemic subterranean amphipods.

ABSTRACT: Molecular taxonomy often uncovers cryptic species, reminding us that taxonomic incompleteness is even more severe than previous thought. The importance of cryptic species for conservation is poorly understood. Although some cryptic species may be seriously threatened or otherwise important, they are rarely included in conservation programs as most of them remain undescribed. We analysed the importance of cryptic species in conservation by scrutinizing the South European cryptic complex of the subterranean amphipod Niphargus stygius sensu lato. Using uni- and multilocus delineation methods we show that it consists of 15 parapatric and sympatric species, which we describe using molecular diagnoses. The new species are not mere "taxonomic inflation" as they originate from several distinct bra

SUBMITTER: Delic T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5469755 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature