In evolutionary biology, a species flock is a diverse, primarily monophyletic, group of closely related species in an isolated area.
A species flock may arise when a species penetrates a new geographical area and diversifies to occupy a variety of ecological niches; this process is known as adaptive radiation. The first species flock to be recognized as such was the 13 species of Darwin's finches on the Galápagos Islands described by Charles Darwin.
A species flock may also arise when a species acquires an adaptation that allows it to exploit a new ecological niche.
All the members of a species flock usually share one or more synapomorphies.
Read more about Species Flock: Examples
Famous quotes containing the words species and/or flock:
““If Steam has done nothing else, it has at least added a whole new Species to English Literature ... the booklets—the little thrilling romances, where the Murder comes at page fifteen, and the Wedding at page forty—surely they are due to Steam?”
“And when we travel by electricity—if I may venture to develop your theory—we shall have leaflets instead of booklets, and the Murder and the Wedding will come on the same page.””
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832–1898)
“The pastor
of grief and dreams
guides his flock towards
the next field
with all his care.”
—Denise Levertov (b. 1923)