Whose observation linked finches from the Galápagos to the idea of natural selection?
Quick Answer
Charles Darwin’s observations during the voyage of the Beagle helped lead to his theory of natural selection. The Galápagos finches became one of the classic examples of adaptation.
The Full Story
Charles Darwin is the scientist most closely associated with the Galápagos finches and natural selection. During the voyage of HMS Beagle in the 1830s, he collected birds from several islands and later recognized that their beaks differed in ways that seemed suited to different foods. Darwin published his theory of evolution by natural selection in 1859 in On the Origin of Species. The finches were not the only evidence, but they became a powerful illustration of how species can diverge over time.
Key Facts
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