Talk:List of examples of convergent evolution
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Comparisons
There are some good examples here but also some questionable ones. Marsupial "mice" such as the Mulgara, planigales, antechinuses etc, are carnivorous and probably better compared to shrews rather than small rodents. A marsupial equivalent of a badger would be a wombat rather than a Tasmanian Devil, which is largely a carrion scavenger - more like a small hyena. Maias (talk) 23:48, 13 October 2008 (UTC)
The wombat is very much a herbivore - unlike a badger which is an omnivore. The wombat's chisel teeth are comparable to those of a rodent. Also, the wombat is in the process of evolving a hide or shell like an armadillo with a substantial thickening of the skin over the rear back of the beast which it also uses to crush an attacker against the roof of its burrow - useful for dingos or snakes.
The controversy over the taxonomy of microbats, megabats and outlier species such as the colugo sometimes touches on the possibility - but seeming improbability - of convergent evolution with regard to the development of flight. In contrast, wingform studies between pterosaurs, birds and bats show marked differences. Pettigrew's studies of megabat eye-to-brain linkages suggested primate characteristics not found in microbats.
I am interested in opinions on the relationship between Muskox and Takin. Is this divergent or convergent evolution? 211.26.165.199 (talk) 03:32, 24 October 2008 (UTC) Ian Ison
Where should cross-class convergent evolution be placed? For example, the mirror self-recognition that is found in corvids, dolphins, and some hominids. m.j.hymowitz (talk) 21:31, 30 October 2008 (UTC)
Odd comparison
"Marsupial Tasmanian Devil has many resemblances to the placental Badger." Really? What are they? Perhaps the person was thinking of a wombat and a badger, rather than a devil and a badger. Sad mouse (talk) 03:46, 9 January 2009 (UTC)
I was thinking they are more like a Wolverine then a Badger (Dirrtypittie (talk) 14:45, 12 February 2009 (UTC))
Proposal
Interesting article from MSNBC, "Antarctic animals look like plants". I am not an expert this field, but this seems to my humble eyes are great example of convergent evolution between plant and animal (8:38, 6 June 2010, UTC). —Preceding unsigned comment added by NicoleTedesco (talk • contribs)
Plants
I am removing the portion about peyote and ayahuasca, (which in any case is a preparation derived of two plants). The similarity of the two psychotropic compounds is not great. Perhaps the author was thinking of psilocybin mushrooms and the Psychotria viridis shrub used, along with yage, in ayahuasca. I would say it is Dimethyltryptamine which arises in several distantly related plant species, anyway.
On a different matter, perhaps a mycologist could add to this list in general; I came here today looking for convergent evolution in yeasts and found nothing.
Mydogtrouble (talk) 14:34, 2 September 2011 (UTC)
Fern and Palm
Similarities between Fern trees and Palm trees can also be added.-.@Photnart. (talk) 23:03, 20 November 2012 (UTC).
weak and/or undocumented example - should be removed
"Mosasaurs of the Mesozoic era are like whales but are closely related to living monitor lizards and the Komodo Dragon." - how are mosasaurs like whales, besides both living in the sea? Their physiology doesn't resemble whales at all. The statement about relations to monitors and dragons is not relevant to convergent evolution. HammerFilmFan (talk) 05:26, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
Protein convergent evolution
The entire section of protein structural convergence is a little unconvincing. Examples are either unreferenced or to vague to be useful.
- Independent hydrogenases evolution sounds like functional, not structural convergence
- Immunoglobulin vs copper, zinc superoxide dismutase does seem a relevant example but are there really no papers on this since the '70s? A lot has changed in our interpretations of structural holomogy since then.
- The lactate and malate dehydrogenase example is confusingly worded. It that the proteins are structurally related., then implies that subtilisin contains a nucleotide binding domain. It then suggests that helical propensity as an explanation and pockets at the end of sheets. This could possibly be helpful but is too jumbled and vague at present.
- The globins are evolutionarily related. Differences are divergent evolution. I think that it is trying to suggest that some of the globins have subsequently re-converged on similar structures? The comparisons from the '70s are too anecdotal to be helpful though.
- The ABAC database is actually pretty good but no reference. Will add.
For now I have removed most of the examples, though please revert if you think I've been too harsh. I'm happy to be disagreed with, but either way, some clarification is needed. T. Shafee (Evo&Evo) (talk) 11:30, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
