Observation

I saw a nice little story on the inter-webs today about a new species of finch that has evolved in the Galapagos, but not through genetic mutation. In this particular case scientists 40 years ago observed a Large Cactus Finch from a neighboring island (65 miles away) mating with a local Medium Ground Finch, the offspring from this coupling proved sufficiently different and able to carve out their own ecological niche (food/habitat etc.) that after a period of only decades the descendant population no longer inter-breeds with the resident finches, the definition of a new species.

The surprising thing about this observation is the hybridisation aspect of it, potentially providing another variation mechanism or trigger for speciation. What will, I'm sure, be much less surprising will be the predictable reaction of the anti-evolution brigade who will no doubt be revving up their fallacy engines as we speak to claim the obvious "it's not "proper" macro-evolution until the Finch turns into a velociraptor" but then again these are the same people that look at the Flintstones and believe it's a documentary.