Citation
African Cichlid Fish: A Model System in Adaptive Radiation Research
TL;DR
500+ species in ~15,000 years (fastest vertebrate radiation)
Reviews Lake Victoria's extraordinary cichlid radiation - over 500 species arising in approximately 15,000 years, the fastest known vertebrate radiation. Documents how hybridization combined with strong sexual selection drove rapid speciation.
Demonstrates how behavioral isolation (color-based mate choice) can enable sympatric speciation, allowing rapid diversification without geographic barriers.
Key Findings from Seehausen (2006)
- 500+ species in ~15,000 years (fastest vertebrate radiation)
- Hybridization + sexual selection drove speciation
- Color-based mate choice enables sympatric speciation