Cryptic species complex

A cryptic species complex is a group of two or more species that have been hidden under a single species name because they look identical or nearly identical to the eye, even though they are genetically distinct lineages. These cryptic, or sibling, species are usually distinguished only through methods such as DNA barcoding rather than through the traditional comparison of physical form. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/