Small But Perfectly Formed: The Vital Role of Darwin's Finches

For anyone embarking on a Galapagos cruise, knowing a little about the archipelago's role in the development of Charles Darwin's theories on natural selection will enhance the experience, even beyond an encounter with the islands' unique wildlife. Of course, it is that very wildlife that Darwin arrived to study in 1835, and his observations and subsequent theories changed our comprehension of the natural world forever.

A Galapagos cruise provides an opportunity for wildlife aficionados to come to this magnificent part of the world and discover for themselves the place that, to this day, continues to fascinate scientists, researchers and naturalists.

Darwin's Voyage of Discovery

Naturalist Charles Darwin came to the islands on a voyage of discovery: he wanted to collect specimens of the archipelago’s flora and fauna. More than any other species, it was the avian specimens (which he called finches, but which are in reality not part of the finch family) that resulted in what's been termed his "eureka moment", leading to the development of his theories on the evolution of species.

Darwin's Finches

When Darwin returned to England, he collaborated with an ornithologist, John Gould, to study the specimens he had collected from the various islands of the archipelago. Across 14 similar-looking specimens, Gould noticed a distinct difference in their beaks and, subsequently, he identified that they were actually 14 separate species. Even more exciting was the discovery that twelve of these were entirely new species – found only (he concluded) in the Galapagos Islands.

Darwin's grandfather had already introduced him to the theory that animal species could, and did, change over the course of time. But it was only when Darwin began studying these small birds that he began to formulate coherent discussions on the idea of natural selection. Along with other specimens, including thrushes and tortoises, he deduced that each island of the archipelago was home to its own distinct species.

In the case of the finches, he theorised that their beaks had adapted differently in order to best take advantage of the food sources that were available. Due to the islands' isolation, the adaptations ensued in the formation of new species over several generations – a process that is known as "speciation". This theory stood in direct contrast to that of the celebrated scientist Jean Baptiste Lamarck, who had hypothesised that a new species could be generated spontaneously.

On the Origin of Species

As well as writing about his extensive travels in The Voyage of the Beagle, Darwin later penned his groundbreaking book On the Origin of Species, which resulted from his research on the Galapagos Finches.

Darwin was actually not the first to broach the theory of evolution. The aforementioned Lamarck played a large part in establishing this school of thought – although he did not call it evolution. Instead, he called it "transformism". However, Darwin contributed significantly to this theory, as he unveiled the mysteries of how and why changes in species occur, and called this process "natural selection".

When On the Origin of Species was published in 1959, Darwin's theories were received with scepticism – particularly among creationists, whose fundamental beliefs conflicted with his claims. Over time, however, Darwin became known as one of the most important contributors to the theory of evolution.

Step Into Natural History on a Galapagos Cruise

Even for those with little prior knowledge of science, a Galapagos cruise offers an exceptional hands-on opportunity to learn about our planet’s natural history in a very real and contextual way.

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Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer with a special interest in the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. Marissa chooses the expert-led Galapagos cruise itineraries organised by Naturetrek, which have brought her unforgettable sightings of a wide range of wildlife in one of the most spectacular regions on Earth.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.