What type of evolution occurs when different species adapt similarly due to environmental pressures?

Convergent evolution occurs when different species, often from unrelated lineages, independently evolve similar traits or adaptations in response to similar environmental pressures or challenges. This process highlights how different organisms can arrive at similar solutions to similar problems, despite not sharing a recent common ancestor.

For example, the wings of bats and birds are a classic illustration of convergent evolution; both types of organisms have developed the ability to fly, but their wing structures are different and derive from distinct ancestral forms. This demonstrates how similar environmental demands (such as the need for flight) can lead to similar adaptations in disparate species.

Understanding convergent evolution is crucial as it illustrates the role of environmental factors in shaping the adaptive strategies of various organisms, revealing that similar selective pressures can lead to analogous evolution, rather than implying a direct genetic connection between the species involved.