cladogenesis
/ˌkleɪdoʊˈdʒɛnəsɪs/
noun
- The process by which a species splits into two or more distinct species through evolution.
- Scientists study cladogenesis to understand the branching patterns in the tree of life.
- The rapid cladogenesis of finches on the Galapagos Islands is a famous example.
- Cladogenesis explains how a single ancestral species can give rise to many new species.
Synonyms