The speciation history of Anaspides tasmaniae (Crustacea: Malacostraca) and its close relatives (family Anaspididae) was studied by phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Anaspides morphotype conceals at least three cryptic species belonging to different parts of its range. The occurrence of multiple cryptic phylogenetic species within one morphological type shows that substantial genetic evolution has occurred independently of morphological evolution. Molecular clock dating of the speciation events that generated both the cryptic and the morphological species of Anaspididae indicated continuous speciation within this group since the Palaeocene ~55 million years ago. This relatively constant rate of recent morphological and cryptic speciation within the Anaspididae suggests that the speciation rate in this group does not correlate with its low extinction rate or morphological conservatism.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Genetics
Research Field:	Molecular evolution
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Marine systems and management
Objective Field:	Marine biodiversity
UTAS Author:	Jarman, SN (Dr Simon Jarman)
ID Code:	20091
Year Published:	2000
Web of Science® Times Cited:	52
Deposited By:	IASOS
Deposited On:	2000-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-08-04
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