The article explores how different cichlid fish species in African lakes and the Neotropics have evolved over time. By studying videos of their feeding behavior, researchers found that younger lake radiations had less diversity compared to older ones. Surprisingly, the Neotropical cichlids, despite being older, had lower functional diversity than the African Lake Tanganyika cichlids. Evolutionary rates were faster in younger radiations, suggesting rapid trait evolution at early stages. Overall, cichlid functional evolution followed similar patterns in different radiations, with each eventually developing unique traits.