What ship was named after the Beagle?
HMS Beagle, the ship that carried Charles Darwin on the voyage that inspired his theory of evolution, was named after the Beagle dog breed.
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Evolution Facts
Evolution facts and facts about evolutions.
14 facts on this shelf
Why do horses have hooves instead of toes?
A horse's hoof is actually a single giant toe, the result of millions of years of evolution from small, multi-toed ancestors to a body built for running.
Are sharks older than trees?
Sharks have been around for more than 400 million years, so they're older than trees, which appeared roughly 350 million years ago.
What land animal are whales most closely related to?
Whales evolved from four-legged land mammals, and their closest living relative is the hippopotamus.
How did the Industrial Revolution change moth colors?
During the Industrial Revolution, soot darkened trees in England, and dark-colored peppered moths became more common because they were better camouflaged, a famous example of natural selection.
Why are avocado pits so big?
Avocado pits are so big because they evolved to be spread by giant prehistoric animals.
What was the Great Oxidation Event?
About 2.4 billion years ago, tiny cyanobacteria began releasing so much oxygen through photosynthesis that it transformed Earth's atmosphere, in what scientists call the Great Oxidation Event.
Why do we get goosebumps?
Goosebumps are a leftover reflex from furrier ancestors, whose hair stood up to trap warmth or look bigger.
Why do fingers wrinkle in water?
Fingers wrinkle in water because of a nervous system response, which may help us grip wet objects.
How long have jellyfish existed?
Jellyfish have existed for more than 500 million years, long before the dinosaurs.
What are manatees most closely related to?
The manatee's closest living relatives are elephants.
Why can't birds feel the heat of chili peppers?
Birds can't feel the burn of capsaicin, the compound that makes chili peppers hot, so they eat the peppers and spread the seeds.
Why did Darwin wait to publish his theory?
Charles Darwin waited about 20 years to publish his theory of evolution and only rushed it out after Alfred Russel Wallace sent him similar ideas in 1858.
What are Darwin's finches?
Darwin's finches from the Galápagos Islands became famous examples of evolution.