Information on Small Galapagos Finches

Over the years, the Galapagos Islands have revealed themselves to be a perfect natural laboratory for Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution, particularly when it comes to tracking natural selection in finches.

Identification

At first glance, a finch is not remarkable--nothing more than a small bird that resembles a sparrow. Darwin categorized 14 different species when he visited the islands in 1831.

Natural Selection

Natural selection is the theory, generally credited to Darwin, that only the strongest of a species survive, thereby passing on traits that strengthen the species in general.

History

Millions of years ago, the finches arrived in the Galapagos, perhaps blown by winds.

Considerations

The extreme isolation of the Galapagos Islands allowed the finches to develop through natural selection without interference from the outside world.

Significance

Darwin's theory of natural selection proved correct by the observation that 14 varieties of finches developed from the original arrival. Each finch species is differentiated by how their beaks have adapted, over the eons, depending upon which island environment they inhabited.

References

• Charles Darwin and the Galapagos Islands
• Galapagos Island Tour Guide