What is Convergent Evolution?

Convergent evolution examples include wings of the insects, birds, and bats. Their wings differ anatomically but the function is similar that is flight. They have no evolutionary relatedness and emerge from different phylogenetic lines but exploit their wings to soar through the air.

The eyes of cephalopods, vertebrates, arthropods, and cubozoan jellyfish are another example. These eye structures have different embryonic origins and differ in anatomical features in these organisms that evolved separately. The eyes of all these organisms serve the function of sight. Similarly, the olfactory organs are also examples in unrelated species are also analogous structures.

For instance, consider the smelling organs sensilla of insects and the terrestrial coconut crab that perform a similar function of detecting odors. The shells of unrelated brachiopods and bivalve mollusks also show certain resemblances. Different aquatic organisms like fish and dolphins have a streamlined structure that enables efficient swimming.

An antifreeze compound that is formed of a protein and sugar that helps fishes like Arctic cod and the Antarctic toothfish to survive in extreme conditions. The gene that codes for this antifreeze glycoprotein had a different function like digestion in ancient times but evolved for adaptation.

Fruitafossor resembles the pangolins and anteaters in having long sticky tongues that made them myrmecophagous, even though they are phylogenetically related in any manner. Mimicry comprises a defense strategy employed by many organisms.

They are of 2 types: Batesian vs Mullerian. Mullerian mimicry occurs when the organisms copy another one morphologically. While in the case of Batesian mimicry, a non-poisonous animal mimics a harmful organism. For instance, Heliobolus lugubris is a sand lizard that mimics a ground beetle Anthia sp. that sprays formic acid in its defense.

The former lizard is non-toxic but by mimicry, it deceives its predators. This evolutionary process can also be observed in plants. Various analogous structures like spines, thorns, and prickles can be seen as an adaptive defensive measure.