[Taxacom] molecular species description

[Geoff Read]

Totally unrecognizable today molecularly?  Not so according to his later
paper:

Trewick, 2000. Mitochondrial DNA sequences support allozyme evidence for
cryptic radiation of New Zealand Peripatoides (Onychophora). Molecular
Ecology 9(3): 269-282.

Quoting the abstract (beyond which I have not yet ventured): "Five of the
six cryptic peripatus species distinguished by allozymes were confirmed by
mtDNA analysis. The sixth taxon appeared to be paraphyletic ... "

There are public COI sequences available in GenBank. But, yes I remember
thinking at the time that using just allozyme electrophoresis for formal
new species was perhaps a little premature.

Geoff


>>> Stephen Thorpe <s.thorpe at auckland.ac.nz> 08/07/09 5:11 PM >>>
Another example from good ol' New Zealand:

Trewick, S.A. 1998: Sympatric cryptic species in New Zealand
Onychophora. Biological journal of the Linnean Society, 63(3): 307-329.

It is a bit dated now, but I'm told on good authority that the species
described therein are totally unrecognisable today morphologically or
molecularly! Something to do with needing the original aliquots which
weren't kept in reusable condition...

People should remember that today's new toy and cutting edge will be
old hat before too long, so they should make sure the taxonomy is
built to last ...