speciation

American  

[spee-shee-ey-shuhn, -see-ey-] / ˌspi ʃiˈeɪ ʃən, -siˈeɪ- /

noun

Biology.

1. the formation of new species as a result of geographic, physiological, anatomical, or behavioral factors that prevent previously interbreeding populations from breeding with each other.

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speciation British  

/ ˌspiːʃɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the evolutionary development of a biological species, as by geographical isolation of a group of individuals from the main stock

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speciation Scientific  

/ spē′shē-ā′shən /

1. The formation of new biological species by the development or branching of one species into two or more genetically distinct ones. The divergence of species is thought to result primarily from the geographic isolation of a population, especially when confronted with environmental conditions that vary from those experienced by the rest of the species, and from the random change in the frequency of certain alleles (known as genetic drift). According to the theory of evolution, all life on Earth has resulted from the speciation of earlier organisms.

2. See also adaptive radiation

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Etymology

Origin of speciation

First recorded in 1895–1900; speci(es) + -ation

Explanation

Speciation is the process, through evolution, that produces a new species of animal. Reproduction creates new offspring of a species, but speciation is even more creative: it results in a species that never existed before. Biologists study speciation, often through looking at fossils and other evidence, to see exactly when and where a new species developed. Speciation is a major part of evolution, which is one theory about how life grows, develops, and changes throughout time.

Example Sentences

Speciation and extinction have occurred throughout Earth’s history.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Speciation is the process by which new species evolve.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018

Pigot, A. L., Owens, I. P. F. & Orme, C. D. L. Speciation and extinction drive the appearance of directional range size evolution in phylogenies and the fossil record.

From Nature • Nov. 28, 2017

Last May, a team of researchers from Antwerp’s X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation research group were invited to Oslo to analyze the materials used in The Scream and used the opportunity to settle the dispute.

From The Guardian • Aug. 31, 2016

Speciation in rodents of the Colorado River drainage.

From Taxonomy of the Chipmunks, Eutamias quadrivittatus and Eutamias umbrinus by White, John A.