>>NEW SCIENTIST (London, UK) 25 April 08 Salamanders formed new species despite interbreeding (Bob Holmes)

>>Evolutionary biologists, from Charles Darwin onwards, have believed that isolation plays a key role in the origin of species.

>>Now a study of cave-dwelling salamanders that have evolved into separate species from their surface-dwelling kin despite regularly interbreeding suggests that isolation is not necessary for speciation.>>



Of course [geographic] isolation is not necessary for speciation. The cichlid fishes of the African lakes have taught us that a long time ago. That is why the so-called "evolutionary species concept" that is currently in vogue makes no sense. This concept assumes that two geographically isolated populations will eventually become two species, so we might as well recognize them as distinct species now. The problem is that geographical isolation does not necessarily lead to speciation, nor is it necessary for speciation to occur.

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