Some beetles and flies have antler-like structures on their heads, much like male deer do. The existence of antlers in beetle, fly, and deer species with strong male-male competition is an example of ________.

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Convergent evolution refers to the evolution of similar adaptations in unrelated organisms in response to similar selection pressures, such as male-male competition for mates. The presence of antler-like structures on the heads of beetles, flies, and deer is an example of convergent evolution. Synapomorphies are shared derived traits that are used to construct phylogenetic trees, homology refers to similarities due to common ancestry, and parsimony is a principle used to select the simplest explanation for a given set of data. None of these concepts fully explain the evolution of antler-like structures in unrelated organisms.

Some Beetles and Flies Have Antler-Like Structures on Their Heads