Parasites are Destroying the Beaks of Darwin’s Famous Finches

The blood-sucking insects were likely brought to the island by visitors.

By Jennifer Walter
Jun 13, 2019 6:39 PMFeb 22, 2020 2:05 AM
Darwin's Finch Galapagos - Shutterstock
A Galapagos finch. (Credit: Ryan M. Bolton/Shutterstock)

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Nearly 200 years ago Charles Darwin voyaged to the Galapagos islands and began to formulate his theory of evolution — largely thanks to his observations of how finches’ beaks varied in shape from island to island. But now, the finches’ famous beaks might be in trouble, thanks to a small, blood-sucking visitor.

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