Seals and penguins both have streamlined body forms that allow them to move through water efficiently. This similarity in body shape is MOST likely the result of:
A)convergent evolution.
B)shared ancestry.
C)homology.
D)phylogeny
E)cladistics

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Seals and penguins are not closely related in terms of ancestry, so the similarity in body shape is not due to shared ancestry (B). While both animals have similar body shapes, they do not share any specific homologous structures (C), which are structures with a common evolutionary origin. Phylogeny (D) refers to the evolutionary history and relationships among groups of organisms, and while it is relevant to the topic, it is not the best answer in this case. Cladistics (E) is a method of analyzing evolutionary relationships based on shared derived traits, but is not directly relevant to the question. Thus, the best answer is convergent evolution (A), which refers to the process by which organisms independently evolve similar characteristics due to similar environmental pressures or niche requirements. In this case, the similar streamlined body shape of seals and penguins is likely due to the selection pressures of moving efficiently through water.

Seals and Penguins Both Have Streamlined Body Forms That Allow