Species Complex

Pronunciation
/SPEH-sheez KOM-pleks/
Category
Taxonomy
Singular
Species Complex
Plural
Species Complexes

Definition

A group of closely related species, or a species that appears to be variable and is thought to consist of more than one undefined species.

Etymology

From Latin 'species', meaning 'type' or 'kind', and 'complex', meaning 'a group of interconnected things'.

Example

The butterfly genus *Papilio* is considered a species complex because it contains multiple closely related species that are difficult to distinguish.

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