Question

What are the examples of convergent evolution from the following options?
A) Flippers of penguins and dolphins
B) Eyes of octopus and mammals
C) Vertebrate brains

Answer 1

Hint: Convergent evolution occurs when differently unrelated organisms that do not share their recent common ancestry are exposed to a similar environment. They independently develop similar adaptations to survive.

Complete answer: Convergent evolution describes the independent evolution of comparable features in species of various lineages. Though sharks and dolphins have similar bodies but are only distantly related. Sharks are fish and dolphins are mammals. Such similarities are a result of both populations being exposed to equivalent selective pressures. Within both groups, changes that aid swimming has been favoured. As time passes, they developed similar appearances (morphology), although they’re not closely related. One of the foremost well-known samples of convergent evolution is the camera eye of cephalopods (e.g., octopus), vertebrates (e.g., mammals), and cnidaria (e.g., box jellies). Traits that arise through convergent evolution are analogous in contrast to homologous structures, which have common origins but not similar functions. The scientist who recognized the fundamental difference between analogies and homologies was the British anatomist Richard Owen.
Thus, options A and B are correct.

Additional information: The opposite of convergent is divergent evolution, where related species evolve different traits as a result of which leads to speciation. It is exhibited when two populations become separated by a geographic barrier.

Note: Convergent evolution is analogous to parallel evolution, during which two similar but independent species evolve within an equivalent direction and independently acquire similar characteristics.