Convergent Evolution facts

While investigating facts about Convergent Evolution Definition and Convergent Evolution Example, I found out little known, but curios details like:

Hyenas are not dogs or canines. In fact, they are feliforms, genetically more closely related to cats than dogs, and their resemblance to canines in appearance and behavior is convergent evolution.

how convergent evolution occurs?

Foxes behave like catdogs, because they are canines that share the same ecological niche as cats (catching small prey favours specific behavioral traits, convergent evolution)

What convergent evolution means?

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across answering what is convergent and divergent evolution. Here are 11 of the best facts about Convergent Evolution Definition Biology and Convergent Evolution Vs Divergent Evolution I managed to collect.

what's convergent evolution?

1. C. megalodon and great white shark have lived in the ocean at the same time, which suggests that C. megalodon probably isn"t the ancestor of great white shark. Similar morphology of these two species is probably the result of convergent evolution.

2. Sunbirds can hover in front of the flowers (like hummingbirds) or perch on the branches when they extract nectar from the flowers. Despite great similarity with hummingbirds, sunbirds and hummingbirds are not closely related. Similar morphology is result of convergent evolution: unrelated species develop same morpho-anatomical features due to similar lifestyle.

3. There are 180 species worldwide of legless amphibians, called Caecilians that can grow up to 3ft long and look exactly like earthworms. This is a classic case of convergent evolution, where two unrelated groups of animals evolve similar traits in response to their environments.

4. Elephants are amongst the world's most intelligent species. Elephants have a total of 257 billion neurons and their brain is similar to that of humans in terms of structure and complexity — such as the elephant's cortex having as many neurons as a human brain, suggesting convergent evolution.

5. An "Elvis taxon" refers to organisms on the fossil record that appear identical to organisms previously thought extinct due to convergent evolution. A paleobiologist suggested the term "in recognition of the many Elvis impersonators who have appeared since the death of The King."

6. 'Convergent Evolution' is the process whereby organisms not closely related, independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. It explains, for example, why hyenas are more closely related to felines, despite seeming dog-like.

7. Auks look like penguins but are not closely related which is an example of moderate convergent evolution. Also, auks are limited to cooler waters because the speed at which their prey can swim doubles as the water temperature increases, with no corresponding increase in speed for the bird.

8. Hyenas are taxonomically classified as cat-like carnivores. Their dog-like characteristics are a result of convergent evolution to resemble canids.