Homologous Traits
Two different species that posses a homologous trait are the bat and the whale. The two have similar bone structure in the bats wings and the whales fins. The bats wings allow the bat fly or soar and the whales fins allow the whale to swim and glide in the water. They both originated from early mammalian ancestors adapting to their own environments.
Analogous Traits
Two analogous species are birds and butterflies. The two similar traits of both species are both the birds wings and the butterflies wings. They’re both similar in function but not in make-up the bird wings are made up of tiny bones while the butterflies wings are kept rigid by fluid pressure. Even though they are very similar in structure they do not share a common structure.
Who would have thought such different animals would have anything in common. A whale in reality could swallow the bat whole, although i don't see bats and whales hanging out anytime soon. I always knew that all animals must have ancestors that they evolved from but i thought it had to be similar animals, say a whale, dolphin, shark, and seals all had a common ancestor at one time. Homologous and Analogous traits makes a better understanding why my assumption isn't always true, just because they are similar in environment doesn't mean they have any similarities from a common ancestor.
ReplyDeleteGood choice on traits and good images. I would have liked a bit more description on the anatomical differences in the homologous trait and a little more elaboration in general.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the analogous traits, can you speculate as to the common ancestor possessing the trait? If it did, did it pass that trait along to both descent lines?