Centre of origin digression

[Richard Pyle]

> I'm aware of other trans-Pacific
> distributions, but that doesn't stop me from wondering how such
> things might have occurred. They cry out for EXPLANATION.

Broadly disjunct and isolated populations of conspecifics or sibling species
(with conspicuous absence from intermediate localities) are not terribly
uncommon among Indo-Pacific reef fishes.  By default, these are assumed to
be "relic" populations of a once broadly-distributed form.  Only recently
have folks begun to examine these things carefully from a modern
phylgeographic perspective.

Aloha,
Rich

Richard L. Pyle, PhD
Ichthyology, Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817
Ph: (808)848-4115, Fax: (808)847-8252
email: deepreef at bishopmuseum.org
http://www.bishopmuseum.org/bishop/HBS/pylerichard.html