convergent evolution

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

This process of carcinisation is a form of convergent evolution.

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 sunflower family tree revealed that flower symmetry evolved multiple times independently, a process called convergent evolution, among the members of this large plant family, according to a new analysis.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 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