National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Photo: Two Butterfly Species Evolved Into Third, Study Finds


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This species of butterfly found in the high-altitude forests of South America was originally created from two separate species, scientists say.

The process by which this species evolved—known as hybridization—may be more important to the evolution of new animals than had previously been thought, the researchers note.

Photograph © Christian Salcedo/University of Florida, Gainesville/Nature