The discovery and exploration of cryptic species have been profoundly expedited thanks to developments in molecular biology and phylogenetics. In this study, we apply a reverse taxonomy approach to the Brachionus calyciflorus species complex, a commonly studied freshwater monogonont rotifer. By combining phylogenetic, morphometric and morphological analyses, we confirm the existence of four cryptic species that have been recently suggested by a molecular study. Based on these results and according to an exhaustive review of the taxonomic literature, we name each of these four species and provide their taxonomic description alongside a diagnostic key.
- MeSH
- DNA, Helminth genetics MeSH
- Species Specificity MeSH
- Ecosystem MeSH
- Phylogeny MeSH
- Microscopy, Electron, Scanning MeSH
- Molecular Biology MeSH
- Sequence Analysis, DNA MeSH
- Fresh Water MeSH
- Rotifera anatomy & histology classification genetics MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Netherlands MeSH