It's all about parallel evolution
Parallel evolution: The development of a similar trait in related, but distinct, species descending from the same ancestor, but from different groups.
Parallel evolution is sometimes difficult to distinguish from convergent evolution. Parallel evolution occurs when different species start with similar ancestral origins, then evolve similar traits over time. This kind of thing happens because the two different species, though they don't necessarily share a common ancestor, experience similar kinds of environmental pressures and survive only by undergoing similar adaptations. A classic example of parallel evolution is found among plants, in which several similar but distinct forms of leaf evolved in parallel and are evident today.
Convergent evolution is the process in which species that are not closely related to each other independently evolve similar kinds of traits. For example, dragonflies, hawks, and bats all have wings.
Some examples of parallel evolution would be like from this chart:
Parallel evolution is sometimes difficult to distinguish from convergent evolution. Parallel evolution occurs when different species start with similar ancestral origins, then evolve similar traits over time. This kind of thing happens because the two different species, though they don't necessarily share a common ancestor, experience similar kinds of environmental pressures and survive only by undergoing similar adaptations. A classic example of parallel evolution is found among plants, in which several similar but distinct forms of leaf evolved in parallel and are evident today.
Convergent evolution is the process in which species that are not closely related to each other independently evolve similar kinds of traits. For example, dragonflies, hawks, and bats all have wings.
Some examples of parallel evolution would be like from this chart:
These animals are found in different areas and yet they look the same, this is because of parallel evolution. The animals above have an animal ancestor that they are both related to and therefore they look the same and share some of the same traits.
These fish look the same because of parallel evolution, just because they come from different areas does not mean that they can not look the same. Fish that are from different areas don't always have to be different. These fish had a common ancestor, therefore they will all look the same but because of environmental factors the fish had to get traits that would help them survive in their environment.
Without parallel evolution, we wouldn't have some of the plants and animals that exist today. Had parallel evolution not occurred, we would not have such a diverse population of animals that inhabit the world.
When people find an organism that looks like another from somewhere else, these organisms most likely had a common ancestor and have gotten the same traits from their ancestral DNA.
Without parallel evolution, we wouldn't have some of the plants and animals that exist today. Had parallel evolution not occurred, we would not have such a diverse population of animals that inhabit the world.
When people find an organism that looks like another from somewhere else, these organisms most likely had a common ancestor and have gotten the same traits from their ancestral DNA.
Sources
"Different Patterns of Evolution." - For Dummies. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
"Different Patterns of Evolution." - For Dummies. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.