Preserved Galapagos Mockingbird
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Preserved Galapagos Mockingbird
A Galapagos Mockingbird, from the collection of the Charles Darwin Research Station on Galapagos. While actually on the Beagle voyage, it was the mockinbirds, and not the celebrated finches gave Darwin a glimpse that species could vary from neighbouring Island to Island. Darwin originally misidentified the finches when he collected them on the Galapagos, assuming them to be from very different groups. He also failed to label the birds very well, which he always regretted. Artist/ornithologist John Gould identified the birds for him and alerted him to the Mockinbirds being distinct species and the others as a new group of 12 closely related species of ground finch. The name Darwins finch was applied to the latter by Percy Lowe in 1936
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6318499
© PAUL D STEWART/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Beagle Beak Darwin Evolution Finch Fitz Roy Galapagos Gould John Gould Origin Of Species Speciation Specimens Taxidermy Taxonomy Galapagos Mockingbird Peter Grant
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases a Preserved Galapagos Mockingbird, sourced from the esteemed collection of the Charles Darwin Research Station on Galapagos. As we delve into its fascinating history, we uncover how this humble mockingbird played a pivotal role in shaping Charles Darwin's groundbreaking theory of evolution. During his renowned Beagle voyage, it was not the celebrated finches that initially caught Darwin's attention but rather these remarkable mockingbirds. Astonishingly, he observed distinct variations among these birds on different islands, igniting his curiosity about species' ability to adapt and evolve within their unique environments. However, due to an unfortunate misidentification and inadequate labeling by Darwin himself, it was artist and ornithologist John Gould who came to his rescue. Gould correctly identified the mockingbirds as distinct species while revealing that the finches formed an entirely new group consisting of twelve closely related ground finch species. This revelation led Percy Lowe to coin them "Darwin's finches" in 1936. The significance of this discovery cannot be overstated; it laid the foundation for our understanding of speciation and became a cornerstone in Darwin's seminal work "On the Origin of Species". Today, researchers like Peter Grant and David Lack continue to study these iconic Galapagos birds, further unraveling their evolutionary secrets. Through this mesmerizing photograph expertly captured by Paul D. Stewart for Science Photo Library, we are reminded of both nature's intricate beauty and its profound impact on scientific progress.
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