speciation

speciate +‎ -tion

• IPA^(key): /ˌspi.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, /ˌspi.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/

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• Rhymes: -eɪʃən
• Hyphenation: spe‧ci‧a‧tion

speciation (usually uncountable, plural speciations)

1. (taxonomy) The process by which new distinct species evolve.
   • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page 3:

     In both groups, however, we find copious and intricate speciation so that, often, species limits are narrow and ill defined.

   • 2014, Elizabeth Kolbert, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, Picador, →ISBN, page 55:

     No one had ever seen a new species produced, nor, according to Darwin, should they expect to. Speciation was so drawn out as to be, for all intents and purposes unobservable.

2. (chemistry) The formation of different (inorganic) species (especially of ions) as the environment changes.

3. (medicine, pathology) The determination of which species are present in a fluid or tissue specimen, bacterial culture, or viral culture.

   requirements specifying speciation and serotyping in addition to reporting of presence or absence

• despeciation

• specialization