Sure?!
Well.... maybe, it is less what the eyes see, and more what genetics shows.
Defining species boundaries is not a straightforward task. Many factors may complicate our capacity to tell apart whether two or more individuals belong to the same species. They may look like the same from the outside, but, from a more intimate perspective, they may be quite different. This is likely the case for red mangrove (Rhizophora) from the western hemisphere and south Pacific islands. Despite their external (morphological) similarities, plants identified as R. racemosa from the Atlantic basin are quite different genetically from "R. racemosa" distributed in the other side of the American continent. Similarly, plants that have intermediate morphological features between R. racemosa and R. mangle have likely originated, and are maintained independently in both oceanic basins.
This study was the outcome of André-san's undergraduate research and it is his first paper published! Keep up the great work!
If you want to know more, these findings are out now! Check it here!