noun
- the formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution
Usage: biology
Examples
- Geographic isolation often leads to speciation over many generations.
- The Galápagos finches are a classic example of speciation in action.
- Scientists study speciation to understand how biodiversity develops.
- Rapid speciation occurred after the mass extinction event.
- The process of speciation can take thousands or millions of years.
- Genetic mutations play a key role in speciation.