convergent evolution
[/kənˈvɜːrdʒənt ɛvəˈluːʃən/]
noun
evolução convergente
1. The evolutionary process by which unrelated or distantly related organisms independently develop similar traits, structures, or behaviors in response to similar environmental pressures or ecological niches
The wings of birds and the wings of bats are examples of convergent evolution, as both evolved independently to enable flight despite their different ancestries.
As asas dos pássaros e as asas dos morcegos são exemplos de evolução convergente, pois ambas evoluíram independentemente para permitir o voo apesar de suas ancestralidades diferentes.
2. The tendency of different species to acquire similar characteristics when placed under the same selective pressures
Convergent evolution explains why dolphins and sharks have similar body shapes despite being mammals and fish respectively.
A evolução convergente explica por que golfinhos e tubarões têm formas de corpo semelhantes apesar de serem mamíferos e peixes, respectivamente.
Convergent evolution is a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology studied extensively in both American and Brazilian scientific communities. It appears frequently in biology curricula, nature documentaries, and scientific publications. The term is used consistently across both Portuguese-speaking and English-speaking scientific communities with no significant regional variations in meaning or usage.
Related Idioms & Phrases
two roads converge (metaphorically relating to evolutionary paths)
nature finds a way (colloquial reference to convergent evolution)
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