In evolutionary biology, speciation refers to the process by which different species emerge out of some common ancestor. Species are defined by the ability of their members to interbreed successfully (this measured by creating viable offspring) so the emergence of two species from a single common stock implies that some genetic separation be established where there was none before.
By this criteria, SAML 1.1, Liberty ID-FF 1.2, and Shibboleth were not different species as the three of them participated (I hesitate to use a more common phrase for such co-operation) in a furious orgy of successful interbreeding to create SAML 2.0.
p.s. Evolutionary science has another term that those more cynical than I might apply to other creatures participating in the current Malthusian struggle to pass on their identity management genes.