Rare mockingbirds

The descendants of rare precious Floreana moths have been found and preserved by the biologists of the University of Zurich in Switzerland and the Museum of Natural History Museum of London.

The Floreana mockingbird (Mimus trifasciatus) is one of the world's rarest birds and is the most influential species in the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin. They are only as small as sparrows, have dark brown fur, white belly with two distinctive brown streaks in front of the chest and a long, curved beak. Previously, they lived only on Floreana Island in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (Central America).

However, because of habitat destruction and competition with other species, they have gradually disappeared from Floreana Island. To restore precious birds, biologists have been searching and comparing DNA of mockingbirds of the Galapagos Islands with specimens of precious birds collected by Darwin in 1835 at the museum and discovering descendants. They currently have only about 500 individuals divided into two small branches concentrated on Champion and Gardner islands.

Thanks to this important result, scientists will collaborate with Charles Darwin Foundation to restore Floreana mockingbird populations throughout the Galapagos Islands.
Ng.Vân (According to BBC)