Scientists shed new light on decades-old mystery over this Galapagos bird

A study reclassifies the Galápagos lava heron as its own species, not a subspecies of the striated heron. Genetic testing shows it shares closer ties with green herons, highlighting evolutionary complexities in the unique ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands. (Representational/Unsplash)

This question has been around for many years. It has been a mystery since scientists and bird enthusiasts first encountered the dark, shiny bird among the black rocks of the Galápagos Islands. The Galápagos lava heron, considered by many researchers to be nothing more than a subspecies of the striated heron from South America, turns … Read more