Hummingbird evolution soared after they invaded South America 22 million years ago
Hummingbird evolution soared after they invaded South America 22 million years ago
by Staff Writers
Berkeley CA (SPX) Apr 08, 2014
A newly constructed family tree of the hummingbirds, published in the journal Current Biology, tells a story of a unique group of birds that originated in Europe, passed through Asia and North America, and ultimately found its Garden of Eden in South America 22 million years ago.
These early hummingbirds spread rapidly across the South American continent, evolved iridescent colors - various groups are known today as brilliants, topazes, emeralds and gems - diversified into more than 140 new species in the rising Andes, jumped water gaps to invade North America and the Caribbean, and continue to generate new species today.
"Our study provides a much clearer picture regarding how and when hummingbirds came to be distributed where they are today," said lead author Jimmy McGuire, a UC Berkeley associate professor of integrative biology and curator of herpetology (reptiles and amphibians) in the campus's Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.
There are now 338 recognized hummingbird species, but that number could double in the next several million years, according to the study's authors, who come from UC Berkeley, Louisiana State University and the universities of New Mexico, Michigan and British Columbia.
More:
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Hummingbird_evolution_soared_after_they_invaded_South_America_22_million_years_ago_999.html
