Steven M. Stanley (born November 2, 1941) is an American paleontologist and evolutionary biologist at the Florida State University.
He is best known for his empirical research documenting the evolutionary process of punctuated equilibrium in the fossil record.
[3] In 1972 Stanley developed the Predation Hypothesis to explain the evolution of novelties in the Cambrian explosion.
Stanley proposed that predation stimulated prey animals to evolve defenses such as shells, rapid swimming, and burrowing.
[5] He admitted to a Nature reporter that “It has been very controversial… It’s my view that I should help to get this stuff published.”[6] The hypothesis was comprehensively refuted in 2023.