• There may be twice as many vertebrates on the planet as previous estimates claimed, according to a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. • That’s not because of any errors or miscalculation, but because thousands of species have been hiding in plain sight. • These are so-called cryptic species that appear identical to our eyes but are actually very different genetically.
Article Summaries:
- A recent study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B suggests that the global number of vertebrate species could be nearly twice the current estimates. Researchers argue that thousands of cryptic species-organisms that look identical to the naked eye but differ genetically-have been overlooked. By re‑examining genetic data across multiple taxa, the team found that many presumed single species actually comprise several distinct lineages. The findings imply that vertebrate biodiversity is far richer than previously thought, potentially reshaping conservation priorities and our understanding of evolutionary processes.
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