SKIP TO CONTENT

speciation

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.

Definitions of speciation
  1. noun
    the evolution of a biological species
    see moresee less
    type of:
    evolution, organic evolution, phylogenesis, phylogeny
    (biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘speciation'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family