Superspecies
Encyclopedia
A superspecies is a group of at least two more or less distinctive species
with approximately parapatric distributions. Not all species complex
es, whether cryptic
es or ring species
are superspecies, and vice versa, but many are. A superspecies consisting of two sister species is called a species pair.
Examples include:
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
with approximately parapatric distributions. Not all species complex
Species complex
A species complex is a group of closely related species, where the exact demarcation between species is often unclear or cryptic owing to their recent and usually still incomplete reproductive isolation. Ring species, superspecies and cryptic species complex are example of species complex...
es, whether cryptic
Cryptic species complex
In biology, a cryptic species complex is a group of species which satisfy the biological definition of species—that is, they are reproductively isolated from each other—but whose morphology is very similar ....
es or ring species
Ring species
In biology, a ring species is a connected series of neighboring populations, each of which can interbreed with closely sited related populations, but for which there exist at least two "end" populations in the series, which are too distantly related to interbreed, though there is a potential gene...
are superspecies, and vice versa, but many are. A superspecies consisting of two sister species is called a species pair.
Examples include:
- Puffinus puffinus group of shearwaterShearwaterShearwaters are medium-sized long-winged seabirds. There are more than 30 species of shearwaters, a few larger ones in the genus Calonectris and many smaller species in the genus Puffinus...
s – not a superspecies, but the P. yelkouan group formerly contained therein is indeed one. - Phylloscopus collybita group of leaf warblerLeaf warblerLeaf-warblers are small insectivorous birds belonging mainly to the genus Phylloscopus. They were formerly included in the Old World warbler family but are now considered to belong to the Phylloscopidae, a family created in 2006. The genus is closely related to Seicercus and some species have been...
s - TapaculoTapaculoThe tapaculos are a group of small suboscine passeriform birds with numerous species, found mainly in South America and with the highest diversity in the Andean regions...
s