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convergent evolution



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It’s an example of convergent evolution, when completely unrelated species independently evolve comparable traits in response to similar environmental pressures.

From Slate • Jan. 25, 2026

"The convergent evolution of crabs has happened about five times in history, but it's happened within the group of decapods."

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2025

Though its teeth were different, the ancient walrus evolved separately from O. rosmarus, an example of convergent evolution or when similar traits arise spontaneously in different animals.

From Salon • Aug. 15, 2024

The analysis revealed that RetroMyelin sequences were more similar within than between species, which suggests that RetroMyelin was acquired multiple times through the process of convergent evolution.

From Science Daily • Feb. 15, 2024

There may be some convergent evolution because there may be only one best solution to a certain environmental problem— something like two eyes, for example, for binocular vision at optical frequencies.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan