For every known vertebrate species, two more may be hiding in plain sight

A new study led by researchers at the University of Arizona suggests that for every recognized vertebrate species, there are, on average, two additional species that have gone unnoticed. These overlooked organisms, known as "cryptic" species, appear almost identical to known species but are genetically distinct. The findings indicate that global vertebrate biodiversity may be far greater than current estimates, raising important questions about how many species remain undocumented ...