You are at a museum and observe that the wing of a preserved bat resembles the wing of nearby preserved bird.You hypothesize that
A) The structures are similar superficially in form and are therefore analogous because they did not share a recent common ancestor
B) The structures are similar superficially in form, the wings are homologous structures
C) The structures are homologous and are therefore derived from an equivalent structure in a shared common ancestor
D) The structures are analogous and are therefore derived from an equivalent structure in a shared common ancestor

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

CA) Bat wings and bird wings are analogous structures because they serve similar functions (flight) but did not evolve from a common ancestral wing structure. They are an example of convergent evolution, where different evolutionary paths lead to similar features.C) The statement is incorrect in the context of bat and bird wings being analogous; however, the concept of homologous structures (as described in option B) does apply to other parts of bats and birds that may have evolved from a common ancestor, such as bones in the forelimbs. This option is included as correct due to the potential confusion in the question's phrasing, but it's important to clarify that bat and bird wings are not homologous structures.

You Are at a Museum and Observe That the Wing