“…An operational definition of cryptic species is “two or more distinct species that are erroneously classified (and hidden) under one species name” (Bickford et al., 2007, p. 148). In algal research over the last two decades, the widespread use of molecular systematics, DNA barcoding, and automated barcode gap recognition has identified cryptic species in many groups of seaweeds (e.g., Gomes et al., 2020; Jesús et al., 2019). Often building on results from the early phases of molecular systematics (see Maggs et al., 2008), approaches range from long‐term global studies of particular taxa to geographically circumscribed sampling campaigns.…”