There are currently many similar-looking but different species on either side of the Isthmus of Panama. They most likely resulted from:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most likely explanation for the creation of similar-looking but different species on either side of the Isthmus of Panama is allopatric speciation. This occurs when populations become geographically separated and then diverge genetically over time due to different selective pressures and genetic drift. With the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, this geographic separation would have occurred, leading to separate evolution of species on either side.

There Are Currently Many Similar-Looking but Different Species on Either