Face of a Galapagos lizard.

A hippopotamus-like creature swims underwater

Flippers or Feet?

An extinct mammal may have been replaced by today's sea cows. Dive into this evolution mystery to learn more.

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Featured Content

The Design of a Beautiful Weapon

This male dancing fiddler crab (Uca terpsichores) has built a sand “hood” at the entrance to his burrow, which he hopes will attract females to his humble abode—as if that big beautiful claw of his weren't enough!

September 2013

Shark Teeth Tell Great White Shark Evolution Story

A close-up image of a fossil shark jaw with teeth.

November 2012

Keeping An Ear Out For Whale Evolution

A 3-D reconstruction of the skull of a fin whale fetus.

March 2015

Menopausal Moms: A Mammal Mystery

An adult and juvenile killer whale frolic in the water.

May 2011

An ancient whale ancestor

Video

Evolution of Whales Animation

Are You An Educator?

At Smithsonian Ocean, we have lesson plans, activities, and resources to help you engage your students in the wonders of our oceans.

see all lesson plans

Evolution Articles

Charles Darwin's Ocean Upwelling

The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System consists of the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, offshore atolls, and several hundred sand cays, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons, and estuaries. The system's seven sites illustrate the evolutionary h

February 2015

With Every Breath You Take, Thank the Ocean

Kelps are large, brown algae that grow along coasts around the world, especially in cooler regions.

July 2017

Meals of the Mighty Mosasaur

the skull of a mosasaur

November 2018

Why a Tusk? The real-life unicorns of the sea and the tusks that make them famous

A narwhal breaches the surface, its tusk pointed to the sky

August 2017

The Design of a Beautiful Weapon

This male dancing fiddler crab (Uca terpsichores) has built a sand “hood” at the entrance to his burrow, which he hopes will attract females to his humble abode—as if that big beautiful claw of his weren't enough!

September 2013

Small red hyperiid.

Slideshow

The Hyper Eyes of Hyperiids: How Some Shrimp-Like Creatures See Light in the Deep Sea

Scientists Call New Eel Species A Living Fossil

A photo of a swimming Protanguilla palau, the newly discovered genus and species of eel

August 2011

Photograph of the underside of a gelatinous octopus with a bright yellow bioluminescent ring around her mouth.

Slideshow

Bioluminescent Animals Photo Gallery

Menopausal Moms: A Mammal Mystery

An adult and juvenile killer whale frolic in the water.

May 2011

An ancient whale ancestor

Video

Evolution of Whales Animation

So You Think You're Smarter Than a Cephalopod?

Like other cephalopods, the common cuttlefish (Sepia officials Linnaeus, 1758) possesses serious brain power.

May 2011

A screenshot from the video showing a fiddler crab with a large claw.

Video

Claws Out: Fiddler Crabs Do Battle