Accurate species delimitation is of primary importance in biodiversity assessments and in reconstructing patterns and processes in the diversification of life. However, the discovery of cryptic species in virtually all taxonomic groups unveiled significant gaps in our knowledge of biodiversity. Mimicry complexes are good candidates to source for cryptic species. Indeed, members of mimicry complexes undergo selective pressures on their habitus, which results in strong resemblance even between distantly related species. In this study, we used a multi-locus genetic approach to investigate the presence of cryptic diversity within a group of mimetic day-flying moths whose systematics has long been controversial, the Euro-Anatolian Syntomis. Results showed incongruence between species boundaries and the currently accepted taxonomy of this group. Both mitochondrial and nuclear markers indicate the presence of four, well-distinct genetic lineages. The genetic distance and time of divergence between the Balkan and Italian populations of S. marjana are the same as those found between S. phegea and S. ragazzii, the last two being well-distinct, broadly sympatrically occurring species. The divergence between the two lineages of S. marjana dates back to the Early Pleistocene, which coincided with substantial changes in climatic conditions and vegetation cover in Southern Europe that have likely induced geographic and ecological vicariance. Syntomis populations belonging to the taxa kruegeri (s. str.), albionica and quercii are now considered a separate species from marjana s. str. and are thus distinguished as Syntomis quercii Verity, 1914, bona sp., stat. nov. Our results show that the species richness of mimicry complexes inhabiting temperate regions might still be severely underestimated.

中文翻译：

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揭示苗勒共同拟态中神秘的多样性：来自西方古北区 Syntomis 蛾（鳞翅目：Erebidae：Arctiinae）的见解

准确的物种划界对于生物多样性评估和重建生命多样化的模式和过程至关重要。然而，在几乎所有分类群中发现的神秘物种揭示了我们对生物多样性知识的重大差距。拟态复合物是寻找神秘物种的良好候选者。事实上，拟态复合体的成员会对其习性施加选择压力，这导致即使在远亲物种之间也有很强的相似性。在这项研究中，我们使用多位点遗传方法来研究一组系统学一直存在争议的拟态白日飞蛾（欧洲-安纳托利亚 Syntomis）中存在的神秘多样性。结果显示物种边界与该组当前接受的分类法之间存在不一致。线粒体和核标记都表明存在四种截然不同的遗传谱系。巴尔干和意大利 S. marjana 种群之间的遗传距离和分化时间与 S. phegea 和 S. ragazzii 之间发现的相同，后两者是截然不同的、广泛同域分布的物种。S. marjana 的两个谱系之间的分歧可以追溯到早更新世，这与南欧气候条件和植被覆盖的重大变化相吻合，这可能导致地理和生态变化。属于 kruegeri (s. str.)、albionica 和 quercii 的 Syntomis 种群现在被认为是与 marjana s 不同的物种。海峡 因此被区分为 Syntomis quercii Verity, 1914, bona sp., stat. 十一月