Superspecies

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Superspecies is a group of at least two more or less distinctive species with approximately parapatric distributions. Not all cryptic species complexes are superspecies, and vice versa, but many are. A superspecies consisting of two sister species is called a "species pair".

Examples include:

• Puffinus puffinus group of shearwaters - not a superspecies, but the P. yelkouan group formerly contained therein is indeed one.
• Phylloscopus collybita group of leaf warblers
• Tapaculos
• The genus Citrus, which despite its official classification as a genus retains complete interbreedability.

[edit] See also

• Ring species
• Cryptic species complex
• Species group

[edit] References

• Stanford article: Superspecies

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