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Time: December 27 1831

Location: Plymouth, England

Discovery: The beginning of Charles Darwin's 5 year expedition as the naturalist on board the H.M.S. Beagle. He made observations during the expedition that eventually led to his theory of Evolution by means of Natural Selection.

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Time: September 1832

Location: Patagonia, Argentina

Discovery: Darwin's discovery of fossils of extinct mammals in Patagonia led him to question the permanence of species and consider the possibility of their transformation over time, contributing to his theory of evolution.

- Group I

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Time: September 1832

Location: Punta Alta, Argentina

Discovery: Darwin discovered fossils of large extinct mammals like Megatherium and Glyptodon embedded in the cliffs. These findings suggested that species could change over time, leading him to consider the idea that current species might have descended from extinct ones.

-Group A

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Time: August 1833

Location: Bahia Blanca, Argentina

Discovery: Darwin encountered the smaller Rhea darwinii and noted its differences from the larger Rhea americana. This observation suggested that geographical separation could lead to species divergence, a key concept in natural selection.

- Group B

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Time: September-October 1835

Location: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Discovery: Darwin observed that giant tortoises on different islands had distinct shell shapes, adapted to their specific environments. This variation indicated that species evolve to suit their habitats, a crucial element of natural selection.

- Group C

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Time: September - October 1835

Location: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Discovery: Darwin collected finch species with varying beak shapes adapted to different food sources. This diversity among finches provided evidence of adaptive radiation, where species evolve from a common ancestor to occupy different ecological niches.

- Group D

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Time: September - October 1835

Location: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Discovery: Darwin was fascinated by the marine iguanas, which had adapted to feeding on seaweed and swimming in the ocean. This unique adaptation illustrated how species can develop specialized traits to thrive in their environments.

- Group E

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Time: September - October 1835

Location: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Discovery: Darwin noticed that mockingbirds on different islands varied slightly in appearance and behavior, suggesting that they had adapted to local conditions. This observation contributed to his understanding of species variation and natural selection.

- Group F

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Time: March - April 1835

Location: Chilean Andes

Discovery: Darwin observed marine fossils at high altitudes and witnessed the aftermath of an earthquake, providing evidence for the gradual geological changes that shape the Earth. This understanding of slow, cumulative change paralleled his ideas about biological evolution.

-Group G

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Time: April 1836

Location: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Discovery: Darwin studied coral reefs and developed a theory on their formation, proposing that coral atolls form from the subsidence of volcanic islands. This theory demonstrated the gradual processes that could lead to significant geological structures over time.

-Group H

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Time: January 1836

Location: Australia

Discovery: Darwin was struck by the distinctiveness of Australian wildlife, such as marsupials and monotremes, which were unlike anything he had seen elsewhere. This diversity supported the idea that isolation and different environmental pressures lead to the evolution of unique species.

- Group J

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Time: October 2, 1836

Location: Falmouth, England

Discovery: The voyage was originally planned to last two years, but was extended due to delays and bad weather. Darwin spent most of the time exploring on land, including three years and three months in South America, where he conducted surveys and made observations. He also visited the Galapagos Islands, where he was struck by the differences he noticed between species, such as the various shapes of tortoise shells. These observations, along with others he made in Chile and Peru, led Darwin to develop theories about the stability and variability of species, and how geological movements can form coral reefs and sink islands.

- Group K