answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Distantly related organisms can find themselves experiencing similar environmental circumstances. For example, ducks rummage for food in the mud of ponds and lakes, and the shapes of their bills reflect that adaptation. There is quite a bit of variability in bird bill shape, and for ducks the varaition which works best for their habitats is a wide shape so that food can be gathered up with mud and water then strained. In Australia, the platypus--a mammal-- feeds upon similar organisms and in a similar way. It also has a bill shaped much like a duck's, but it is not made up of similar tissue. A duck's bill is made up of a hard, horny material, similar to fingernails, while the platypus bill is made up of soft tissue. The bills of these two organsisms, while completely different structurally, converged on a similar shape due to similar dietary habits. One can find lots of other examples of this phenomenon. Consider organisms that swim in water. The optimal shape for that is elongated and smooth. Fish certainly possess that shape, but so do whales, dolphins and porpoises. Yet both groups have very different evolutionary histories, and their shapes, while similar, betray their evolutionary origins with significant differences. Fish swim with a side-to-side motion, and their tail fins are vertical. Whales, on the other hand, being descended from land-dwelling organisms, do not have backbones which bend easlily from side to side, so they swim with an up-and-down motion of the tail, and their tail fins, or flukes, are aligned horizontally.

User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 16y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

βˆ™ 6mo ago

Convergent evolution happens when unrelated species develop similar traits due to similar environmental pressures. These similar traits may provide a survival advantage in the given environment, leading to their emergence in different organisms through independent evolutionary pathways.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 11y ago

Adaptive radiation may result in convergent evolution, if two species occupy the same ecological niche in different locations (such as a hedgehog and porcupine) or when separated by time (such as dolphins and sharks).

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why does convergent evolution happen?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

Find one example of convergent evolution among the Caminalcules?

One example of convergent evolution among the Caminalcules is the evolution of leaf-like structures in different lineages that have adapted to a similar environment. Despite starting from different ancestral forms, these organisms have independently evolved leaf-like structures to maximize surface area for photosynthesis, showing convergent evolution.


What is the evolutionary process that produces analogous structures called?

The evolutionary process that produces analogous structures is called convergent evolution. Convergent evolution refers to the independent evolution of similar traits in species that are not closely related, usually in response to similar environmental pressures.


A pattern of evolution that results when two unrelated species begin to appear similar because of environmental conditions is?

Convergent evolution is the pattern of evolution where two unrelated species develop similar traits due to similar environmental pressures. This can lead to analogous structures in different species that serve the same function, even though they do not share a common evolutionary origin.


A similar feature that evolved through convergent evolution is called a?

analogous structure.


Compare convergent divergent parallel evolution?

Convergent evolution is when two unrelated species develop similar traits due to adapting to similar environments. Divergent evolution is when two species with a common ancestor develop different traits due to adapting to different environments. Parallel evolution is when two related species independently develop similar traits due to adapting to similar environments, but they do share a recent common ancestor.

Related questions

How do you use convergent evolution in a sentence?

Convergent evolution means that different species have evolved to do the same sort of thing. Those two animals show convergent evolution. Convergent evolution explains why they look so much alike.


What is the name of evolution that produces similar but distantly related organisms?

Convergent evolution, or convergence theory.


How is evolution and convergent evolution alike?

Evolution and convergent evolution both involve changes in organisms over time. However, convergent evolution specifically refers to the independent evolution of similar traits in unrelated species in response to similar environmental challenges.


How do organisms that are not related now appear similar?

This is called analogous traits. When two different types of organisms are in the same type of environment, usually geographically separated, they come up with very similar adaptions to their local environment.


Find one example of convergent evolution among the Caminalcules?

One example of convergent evolution among the Caminalcules is the evolution of leaf-like structures in different lineages that have adapted to a similar environment. Despite starting from different ancestral forms, these organisms have independently evolved leaf-like structures to maximize surface area for photosynthesis, showing convergent evolution.


The independent evolution of the advanced cephalopod eye and the eye of a vertebrate is know as?

convergent evolution


When two organisims look alike?

Convergent evolution.


What kind of features can convergent evolution lead to?

help?


What is the environment an organism lives in called?

convergent evolution


Is platypus an example of convergent evolution?

Yes, with ducks.


When will convergent evolution occur?

It already has in some instances


How do species become adapted to their environment?

The process is called "adaptation."