Cryptic and New Species

Abstract

We emphasise the importance of DNA studies for the description of new and cryptic species of “desert truffles”. Terfezia canariensis is described in the claveryi group. T. alsheikhii, T. olbiensis, T. fanfani and five new species are recently proposed: T. extremadurensis, T. eliocrocae, T. pini, T. pseudoleptoderma and T. albida are described in the previously single leptoderma–olbiensis cryptic group. In desert truffles, as mycorrhizal fungi, the preference-specificity factor of the host is manifested as an important factor to know their life cycle. Molecular phylogenies support the morphological conclusions of traditional taxonomy in some cases but not in others. An increase in new species being considered accompanies modern studies. We point out the importance of a change of paradigm in fungal taxonomy in order to be able to describe the high diversity in nature, using new tools as molecular biology and phylo-geopgraphic studies.The difficulty of sampling desert truffles results in their slow discovery. Therefore, the labour, often carried out selflessly and passionately by many amateurs and mycological societies, is essential for documenting the biodiversity of these fungi.