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:
“Not only does every animal live at the expense of some other animal or plant, but the very plants are at war.... The individuals of a species are like the crew of a foundered ship, and none but good swimmers have a chance of reaching the land.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)
“a flock of bright red lanterns
has settled.”
—Charles Reznikoff (1894–1976)