Daily Infographic: A Family Tree Of Every Bird On Earth
All Of the Birds The family tree of all birds. Click here to make it bigger. University of SheffieldThis family tree reveals that species formation has sped up in the past 50 million years, especially in the western hemisphere. This gorgeous infographic is the first family tree linking every bird on Earth, revealing how birds have evolved since the dinosaur age. The map shows where and when birds lived, which offers a glimpse of species diversification around the planet. One big takeaway: Birds have been diversifying at an increasing rate in the past 50 million years. Today, 9,993 living species are known. This is significant, because it runs counter to a prevailing view in biodiversity circles, the study's authors say. "A new distinctive group, like bumblebees or tunafish, first evolves, and, if conditions are right, it quickly radiates to produce a large number of species," says co-author Arne Mooers of Simon...
