Cryptic and cryptic: a tale of definitions and lack of resources ?
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1
Independent researcher, Switzerland
The term 'cryptic species' is used for many different situations, which distorts discussions and has practical consequences. While real cryptic species (apparently) exist, are most 'cryptic species' not merely words hiding the lack of resources (human and financial) to look at the fish ? Examples include the 'Barbodes binotatus group' (Cyprinidae of Southeast Asia) in which a so-called cryptic species (when based on a few specimens from distant localities and ages) becomes an assemblage of very distinct species, with distinct ontogenies, when well-preserved material becomes available from enough sites and with all growth stages. Clearly, time for the sampling, money for that time, are the prerequisite to understand the diversity of the group.
Discussions on cryptic species should be very clear on definitions and concepts. Otherwise, the cryptic definition can be suspected: species that have not been studied with enough attention before. Routine taxonomic revision.
Keywords:
Cyprinidae,
Barbodes binotatus,
cryptic species,
Sundaland,
Ontogeny
Conference:
XVI European Congress of Ichthyology, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2 Sep - 6 Sep, 2019.
Presentation Type:
Oral
Topic:
TAXONOMY, PHYLOGENY AND ZOOGEOGRAPHY
Citation:
Kottelat
M
(2019). Cryptic and cryptic: a tale of definitions and lack of resources ?.
Front. Mar. Sci.
Conference Abstract:
XVI European Congress of Ichthyology.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2019.07.00116
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Received:
23 Jun 2019;
Published Online:
14 Aug 2019.
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Correspondence:
Mx. Maurice Kottelat, Independent researcher, N/A, Switzerland, mkottelat@dplanet.ch