Question

Are flippers of penguin and Dolphin homologous and analogous? What type of evolution has brought such a similarity in them?

Answer 1

Hint: Dolphins and Penguins both are the species of their own kind and are not related to each other that closely. They are related to each other in a way that they have flippers present and this is also due to the evolution that took place very long time ago.

Complete Answer:
- As we know that the Dolphins and Penguins have one similarity, that is, they have flippers which help them to swim. Wings are modified into paddle-like flippers. Each flipper is covered with the scale-like feathers which are short in size.
- The long wing feathers typical of most birds are too flexible for swimming in water. Unlike having wings like other birds, penguins have tapered, flattened flippers for swimming.
- Both the organisms Dolphin and Penguin are analogous in nature because the flippers they have, do similar functions but their origin is different so comes in the category of analogous.
- Dolphins and Penguins are not closely related to each other but evolved similar traits(flippers) which represent convergent evolution but developed from different lineages.

 Convergent evolution is the evolution which is independent of similar species of different periods epochs in time. They form analogous structures that have similar form or function but were not present in the last common ancestors of those groups.

Note: Convergent evolution is not only applicable here, it also applies to many more organisms. Some examples of convergent evolution include the relationship between bat and insect wings, shark and dolphin bodies, and vertebrate and cephalopod eyes. Convergent evolution gives rise to analogous structures but not to homologous structures.