Tag Archives: Evolution

Top: A photograph of Charles Darwin from around 1870. Bottom: An 1845 drawing by the ornithologist John Gould illustrating the variety of finch beaks encountered by Darwin during his travels through the Galápagos Islands in 1835.
1858-1859: Unveiling the Secrets of Evolution – The Theory of Natural Selection

Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace independently formulated the theory of natural selection, explaining how traits contribute to survival and reproduction, shaping species over time. Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" popularized this theory, now [...]

Main image: A blue-footed booby, a native bird of the Galápagos Islands. Inset: A true-color image of the Galápagos Islands from space, taken in 2002 by NASA's Terra satellite
c. 5 Million BCE: The Galápagos Islands – A Hotspot of Biodiversity and Geology

The Galápagos Islands, formed by the Galápagos hotspot, are a unique geological and ecological region. Their location near divergent plate boundaries has led to significant volcanic activity, creating an isolated environment that influenced Charles Darwin's [...]

Bonobos, a species of hominids closely related to chimpanzees, in their natural habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa
c. 10 Million BCE: The Evolutionary Journey of Hominids

Hominids, encompassing great apes and humans, trace their origins back to about 10 million years ago. Adaptations to changing environments during the Miocene led to diverse lifestyles. Genetic evidence suggests the divergence of orangutans, gorillas, [...]

An imprint of an Archaeopteryx fossil from around 160 million years ago, showcasing a feathered, bird-like dinosaur, a precursor to modern birds, about the size of a common raven
c. 160 Million BCE: The Evolution of Birds from Dinosaurs

Explores the evolution of birds from feathered dinosaurs during the Age of the Dinosaurs, discussing the role of feathers and the survival of avian dinosaurs through the Cretaceous mass extinction, leading to the diverse, intelligent [...]

An artist's illustration showcases the impressive size and diversity of dinosaurs, with 13-foot-tall (4 meters) Diplodocus grazing in shallow waters beneath flying Pterosaurs, dominant land vertebrates for over 135 million years
c. 200-65 Million BCE: Dinosaurs – The Reign of Ancient Giants

Exploring the rise of dinosaurs post-Permian and Triassic extinctions, this article highlights their evolution from small bipedal predators to diverse, dominant species, culminating in their extinction 65 million years ago, with birds as their living [...]

A close-up microscopic image of a small, fossilized tooth from a conodont, a jawless, eel-like vertebrate from the Triassic period.
c. 200 Million BCE: The End Triassic Extinction – A Turning Point in Earth’s History

Discusses the End Triassic mass extinction event over 200 million years ago, which led to the extinction of half the species on Earth, including many archosaurs and marine species, paving the way for the rise [...]

An artist's depiction of Megazostrodon, a small, furry, shrew-like early mammal, encountering a scorpion, first appearing in the fossil record around 200 million years ago
c. 220 Million BCE: The Evolutionary Journey of Mammals

Tracing mammals' evolution, this article highlights their origins from synapsids in the Pennsylvanian period, their survival through the Great Dying, and the rise to dominance post-dinosaur extinction, aided by unique characteristics and environmental changes

Based on fossil evidence, early reptiles like Hylonomus likely resembled modern lizards, as shown here
c. 320 Million BCE: The Evolutionary Journey of Reptiles

Traces the evolution of reptiles, starting 375 million years ago from amphibious tetrapods, highlighting their adaptation to lay eggs on land and the emergence of species like Hylonomus, leading to a diverse lineage including dinosaurs [...]

An artist's rendition of Ichthyostega, a 5-foot-long transitional vertebrate blending fish features like a tail and gills with amphibian traits such as a skull and limbs
c. 375 Million BCE: The Dawn of Land Animals – From Fish to Tetrapods

Explores the emergence of complex multicellular life 550 million years ago, including the first vertebrates and tetrapods, highlighting Ichthyostega, one of the earliest creatures to venture onto land, and the profound impact of this evolutionary [...]

These early land plants, resembling mosses here on these rocks, likely grew near water
c. 470 Million BCE: The Emergence of Land Plants and Their Impact on Earth

Explores the evolution of the first land plants from aquatic ancestors, their adaptations to survive desiccation, and their significant impact on Earth's atmosphere and ecology, including the increase of oxygen and the emergence of wildfires