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

"This study shows that there's a speciation 'gray zone' that can make it hard to draw the line," Chan said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

Mr. Solomon estimates that significant steps toward speciation could arise within five to 10 generations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

"Consequently, the mutations already existed in a common ancestor and are therefore older than the speciation," says Wolf.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024

But a study of fossils from East Africa’s Lake Victoria shows that it takes more than arriving early to win the speciation race.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 4, 2023

The separation of the speakers by migrations had effects on language comparable to the speciation observed by Darwin on various islands of Galapagos.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas