Page 34 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #02

talkin g

POINT

out what’s what. In part ones. Only by delving into natural history
Calleremites
th
only
subornata has only this is linked to the common and DNA can we reveal the true extent of
conception of how evolution
ee times
been seen three times preco cryptic diversity. This is a burgeoning area of
first
since it was first works. To o many people, evolution is research in all fields of zoology. A beautiful

18
described in 1894. . a one-way, l linear process where simple example of how much diversity
94
forms give ri ise to increasingly complex ones, is hiding in plain sight is a
C
As parasitologist Bob Kabata, once said, once said: so it has bec come ingrained that simple forms parasitoid wasp from Costa
osta
must be primitive. In reality, evolution just as
to
“Had the copepod [a small crustacean] must be pri Rica that was assumed to be
m
been the size of a cow, the tip of its first easily moves in the other direction. one species. Entomologiststs
ov
antenna would have become a topic for In adapting to a particular niche, an animal looked at its DNA and
exhaustive studies.” can progressively lose many (sometimes ecology – exactly where
Getting to grips with animal diversity is all) of its complex features. These so-called and how it lives – to reveal
further confounded by the fact that we’re degenerates – charming characters such it is actually a complex of 36
drawn to species with which we feel an as tongue worms, slime animals and outwardly identical species,
emotional attachment. Typically, these are thorny-headed worms – had generations of all living distinct lives.
mammals with cute wet noses, doe eyes and zoologists scratching their heads. It was only Tropical forests and coral reefs are
fs are
so on. However, many animals are faceless; the ability to sequence DNA that revealed where we find the greatest concentrations
t
en
lots don’t even have a head. The appearances their true heritage. of life, but going to these places and
and lifestyles of most animals are very alien documenting their fauna in a systematic
indeed. It’s easier to identify with a lioness eaped on top of this secondary way is often difficult. For me, the canopy of
and the challenges she faces nurturing her simplification – to make things a primary tropical forest is most tantalising
cubs than it is to form any sort of emotional even more complicated – nature of all – it’s there within easy reach, yet
link with a faceless crustacean that spends can trick us at every turn with a exploring it freely without disturbing it
most of its life attached to the eye of a fish. H huge variety of doppelgangers and excessively is next to impossible. Some
The often very strange outward appearance deceivers. Many animals look very similar regions are out of bounds because of war
though they aren’t closely related, either
d political strife, while others are just
l
i
f of animals also impedes our attempts to work even th h th ’t l l l t d ith and liti l tif hil th jt
tt
l
i
d
k
t t
because they happen to live in similar ways or extremely remote and hostile once you’ve
because there’s some mimicry going on. managed to get there. And exploring the
There’s also a huge amount of cryptic deep sea is as challenging as going into
diversity, where something that looks like one space, with a similarly hefty price tag.
species is actually several identical-looking Even if you manage to reach your

The canopy of
primary tropical
rainforest is full
of life but difficult
to explore.

34 BBC Wildlife February 2018