Since the advent of DNA analysis and other molecular techniques, have there been any examples where convergent evolution mislead earlier biologists in regards to species identification? If so what animal and what was the convergent trait.
2007-04-04 10:00:55 · 2 answers · asked by Al 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The tusks of hippos made some scientist think they were related to pigs. There are more but it is hard to think of them.
2007-04-04 10:07:54 · answer #1 · answered by bravozulu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A good example of convergent evolution is the Thylacine (tasmanian tiger) and the wolf. Although they superficially look similar they are not related (the Thylacine is now extinct). When first discovered it was thought they were related, but clearly, being a marsupial, as opposed to placental mammal, the thylacine was only a very distant relative to the wolf. It was more closely related to the Koala than to the wolf.
DNA analysis confirmed this.
2007-04-04 17:26:40 · answer #2 · answered by Labsci 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋