Cryptic species complex

G6mez, A., Serra, M., Carvalho, G.R., Lunt, D.H. (2002). Speciation in ancient cryptic species complexes evidence from the molecular phylogeny of Brachionus plicatilis (Rotifera). Evolution 56,1431-1445. 

Suatoni, E., Vicario, S., Rice, S., Snell, T., Caccone, A. (2006). An analysis of species boundaries and biogeographic patterns in a cryptic species complex the roiiiex-Brachionus plicatilis. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolutional, 86-98. 

P. globosa Scherffel (Scherffel 1900) forms globular colonies with the cells evenly distributed throughout the colony (Fig. 5b). Molecular data and DNA content suggest that this is a complex of up to three or four cryptic species, but to date no morphological investigations exist to support this. 

Simon EM, Nanney DL, Doerder FP (2008) The Tetrahymena pyriformis complex of cryptic species. Biodivers Conserv 17 365-380... 

Lee CE (2000) Global phylogeography of a cryptic copepod species complex and reproductive isolation between genetically proximate populations . Evolution 254 2014—2017... 

QI Z, DIERCKENS K, DEFOIRDT T, SORGELOOS P, BOON N, BAO Z and BOSSIER P (2009a) Analysis of the evolution of microbial communities associated with different cultures of rotifer strains belonging to different cryptic species of the Brachionus plicatilis species complex. Aquaculture 292 3-29. 

Schroeder, T., Walsh, E.J. (2007). Cryptic speciation in the cosmopolitan Epiphanes senta complex (Monogononta, Rotifera) with the description of new species. Hydrobiologia 593,129-140. 

The taxonomic implication of this range of variation is more difficult to discern in genera such as Mesonodon where the global distribution includes a distinctive range of variation based on a striate foundation. The Neotropical/African disjunction also requires further examination. Currently the African E. stereophylloides is considered sister to the American complex of species which includes E. jamesonii. Further work may resolve this complex as one or a number of species with a Neotropical/African disjunction or a number of distinct African and American taxa. The possibility of recent radiation and cryptic speciation has to be considered in both these cases. 

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