Convergent evolution results in similar adaptations across different species from "summary" of The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins
Convergent evolution is a fascinating concept that highlights the extraordinary power of natural selection. It refers to the phenomenon where different species independently evolve similar traits or adaptations in response to similar environmental pressures. Despite not sharing a common ancestor that possessed these traits, these species end up with strikingly similar features due to the forces of natural selection. One classic example of convergent evolution is the development of wings in birds and bats. Birds, with their feathers, and bats, with their skin stretched between elongated fingers, both evolved the ability to fly. While their wings may look quite different at first glance, they serve the same purpose of allowing these animals to take to the skies and navigate their environments with ease. Another intriguing example is the evolution of camera-like eyes in both vertebrates like humans and cephalopods like octopuses. Despite the vast differences in their evolutionary histories, these two group...
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