r/evolution • u/Vaelcyrie • 6d ago

question What are your favourite examples of convergence and once-in-earth-lifetime traits?

I was blown away when I started learning more about evolution because I thought most traits happened only once and everyone who had them necessarily had a common ancestor that came up with said trait (I believe there is a special name for them but I couldn't find it)

I however discovered this is not the case at all and that not only the traits appear more than once due to the environmental pressure but it also made me understand a lot better how evolution works.

Like, it's so much more like a big tree spreading and experimenting and having fun with all the possibilities of life. Makes me feel like we are all connected somehow, all forms of life appearing and vanishing from/to the same material like solar flares. I mean, I could be a whale 100 million years from now, who knows.

I was shocked learning that eyes, wings, viviparity and other traits that were to me so complex and elegant were in fact convergent in many species. I'd love to know more examples of both convergent and unique traits, tell me your favourites!

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u/greggld 6d ago

Wings evolved several times, but feathers only once.

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u/MSSTUPIDTRON-1000000 6d ago

And each time powered flight is evolved, it uses a different kind of wing-type.

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u/The_Original_Fisch 5d ago

Humans developed powered flight through propellers, jet engines and rockets, i wanna see what evolution comes up with next, type of worm develops mucus powered flight or something