Importance of Convergent Evolution
Though Convergent Evolution is not a major role-playing evolutionary process. But still, they perform a big role. Convergent Evolution tries to make new species with the help of nature. Nature forces the species to acquire new traits in them. This need to acquire a new character develops a new species. This process helps to maintain the nature rules very well. Without acquiring new characters no species can survive in nature. Hence, they will disappear gradually. Convergent Evolution helps them to evolve into a new species acquiring new traits.
Examples of Convergent Evolution
Wings of Flying Animal
Here, we will take Bat, Crow & Pterosaurs as an example. Bat is a mammal, Crow is a bird & Pterosaurs is from a reptile family. They all have wings to fly in the sky. But their structure is not the same. Not they have evolved from the same ancestor. That is why it is the Convergent Evolution. Due to some reason, they all prefer the sky as their growing space. But to live in the sky, they all should have wings.
If we study the Pterosaurs, we find that only one Phalanges bone are involved to develop the membrane which works as the wings. Other Phalanges bones are situated outside of the wings & work as a claw. Same thing if we study Bat, we can find that all four Phalanges bones are involved to develop the membrane. Single one Phalanges bone is situated outside of the wings. But for Crow, we find that only Hummers, Ulna, and Radius are involved to develop the wings. All the Phalanges bones are merged together & develop a new type of bone that hold the wings of the bird.
So, it is visible that all the wings perform the same task. But they all are Anatomically different in structure.
Structure in Marine Animals
Dolphins & Sharks both are different in nature. Dolphin is from the mammal family & Shark is from the fish family. But they both developed flippers in their body. As they have to live in the water, they have to swim in it. For that purpose, they have developed common features in it. Also not only that, they have the same body structure which helps them to quickly move inside the water. They all are from different families, but as they evolve similar traits that is why it is known as Convergent Evolution.
Structure of Eye
Every animal has eyes. From this perspective, the eye is also a Convergent Evolution. Humans developed their eyes for living in bright & darkness. But some marine creatures develop their eyes only to live in the darkness. The eyes perform the same function to see. But as they are anatomically different for every creature that is why the eye is also a Convergent Evolution.
Convergent Evolution
Evolution is a developing process. It is a continuous & immortal process by which new species take place in nature. Evolution is a process where from an existing creature a new completely different creature evolved. In every living thing, evolution can be observed. Though evolution takes millions of times to create a new species, but still in the present time also, evolution is the key force that maintains nature. Scientists believe that there are many types of evolution present. Among them, Divergent Evolution is the major one. But others also are responsible for creating new species. Among others, Convergent Evolution is next to the Divergent Evolution.
Types of Evolution
There are four types of the evolutionary process is present. They are:
- Divergent Evolution
- Convergent Evolution
- Parallel Evolution
- Co-Evolution
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