Was Darwin Wrong? - Photo Gallery - National Geographic Magazine

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Tracking the Evolution Story

Evolution at work.

/2004/11/darwin-wrong/img/1-red-orchid-714.jpg /2004/11/darwin-wrong/img/1-red-orchid-60.jpg Photograph by Robert Clark Disa uniflora orchid extends its petals like arms as if to proclaim, Look at me. For the legendary 19th-century scientist, orchids epitomized his theory of natural selection, the belief that plants and animals evolve with traits favoring survival and reproductive success. By this measure orchids are a sensational success, with 24,000 species and 60,000 registered hybrids, far more than any other flowering plant on Earth. Found on South Africa's Table Mountain, Disa uniflora can endure frost, snow, and high wind. Its fused male and female parts—the white column at center—entice bees for pollination rather than relying on breezes to carry pollen.]]> /2004/11/darwin-wrong/img/2-spiny-anteater-714.jpg /2004/11/darwin-wrong/img/2-spiny-anteater-60.jpg Photograph by Robert Clark /2004/11/darwin-wrong/img/3-case-of-beetles-714.jpg /2004/11/darwin-wrong/img/3-case-of-beetles-60.jpg Photograph by Robert Clark Euchirus longimanus, remains a mystery. It may have come from Indonesia via naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace or from dealer E. W. Janson, who supplied Darwin with various horned specimens. "Darwin was fanatical about beetles," says British entomologist Kenneth Smith. In Darwin's day, "if you were a beetles man, it was considered manly. They're pretty tough insects."]]> /2004/11/darwin-wrong/img/4-bulldog-skeleton-714.jpg /2004/11/darwin-wrong/img/4-bulldog-skeleton-60.jpg Photograph by Robert Clark