Sibling species

Sibling species (English Sibling species) are closely related and morphologically externally very similar sister species that often inhabit the same region ( sympatry ), but are reproductively isolated from each other, so be begotten between individuals of these species no or no fertile offspring. Species that resemble each other not only strong, but externally are identical, are referred to scientifically as crypto species ( engl. Cryptic species).

For example, the fever mosquitoes ( Anopheles gambiae ) are now divided into six sibling species, which can not be distinguished morphologically indeed, differ but giving in the way of blood hosts or with respect to oviposition substrates ( freshwater or brackish water). Although the six mosquito species fever so spacious occur in the same habitat, they are looking for the propagation time to different habitats and thus are spatially isolated from each other. Other well-known examples of sibling species of the local wildlife are at the Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing birds and Treecreeper and Treecreeper. Here are the types spite of a close relationship with different acoustic signals reproductively isolated from each other.