The (integrative) taxonomy driving conservation of cryptic species: an example of Neotropical Myotis

Abstract

It is estimated that less than 25% of the eukaryotic species on Earth have been formally described. On the other hand, we are going through a biodiversity crisis that has caused mass species extinctions, many of which have not yet been discovered by science. This puts taxonomy at the forefront of the biological sciences. Based on a case study on neotropical Myotis, a hyper-diverse and cryptic bat genus, we argue that (integrative) taxonomy plays a leading role in generating knowledge that can aid the assessment of the extinction risk of species and, consequently, guide conservation strategies. Moreover, the identification of complexes of cryptic taxa employs integrative taxonomic methods that are often based on genetic and morphological evidence, generating basic information on the demographic history, occupation of habitats, and distributional limits of taxa that are generally rare or endemic.