Burnsius (Pyrgus) oileus male 28 Nov 2018 Guardalavaca © Tim Norriss
In recent years it has become clear that hidden amongst what was once thought to be one species there are sometimes one or two other cryptic species that , had it not been for genomic studies, would have remained undiscovered. These cryptic species may have diverged many millennia ago and then evolved to resemble another species from which it can now not be or hardly be distinguished on external characters alone.
But recently I read two papers that were a complete eye-opener to the hidden complexities of some of these relationships. You can read these for yourselves here and here. I have included two extracts below from the first paper to whet your appetite and if you haven't read them already this will have you scrabbling to do so.
But recently I read two papers that were a complete eye-opener to the hidden complexities of some of these relationships. You can read these for yourselves here and here. I have included two extracts below from the first paper to whet your appetite and if you haven't read them already this will have you scrabbling to do so.
And this which I find absolutely mind-boggling. You can only imagine the excitement and incredulity of the guys that discovered this. Hats off to them.
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