The evolutionary process by which new biological species arise from existing ones through genetic divergence and reproductive isolation. Speciation is the fundamental mechanism that creates biodiversity over time.
From Latin 'species' (kind, type) plus the suffix '-ation' (process of), coined by evolutionary biologists in the early 20th century. The term formalized Darwin's ideas about how one species could split into multiple species.
Island chains like the Galápagos are natural laboratories for speciation, where isolated populations of finches, tortoises, and iguanas evolved into distinct species on different islands! Geographic isolation is one of the most powerful forces driving speciation in nature.
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