Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun biology A trait of evolution in which species
acquire similarproperties because of theiradvantageousness .
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word convergent evolution.
Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
bourbonmots commented on the word convergent evolution
The Guiana dolphin…detects faint electric fields generated by such things as contracting muscles, a beating heart and pumping gills – telltale signs of potential prey…. The Dolphin is the first placental mammal known to have these super sensory powers, scientists report. It detects electric fields using organs on its snout called vibrissal crypts that were once considered simple remnants of long-lost whiskers. Electroreception – the ability to sense these bioelectric fields – has already been described in sharks, amphibians, fish and some egg-laying mammals….The vibrassal crypts – originally responsive to mechanical, whisker-generated stimuli – evolved to respond to electrical stimuli instead….The finding…is "a beautiful example of what’s called convergent evolution, where animals find the same solution to the same problem, but from a different starting point."
-- ScienceNews August 27, 2011.
September 2, 2011