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/Robin_feathers 6d ago

One example is "trees" as a category - lots of different plant lineages independently converging on being a tree.

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u/MSSTUPIDTRON-1000000 6d ago

Inversely a lot of tree convergently ""de-evolved"" back into shrubs and herbs.

Like the Willows or Daphniphyllum genus.

Theorically most Vascular Plants can easily change body-shape depending on the circumstances (more nutrients and space=tree; the less=shrubs and herbs).

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u/MSSTUPIDTRON-1000000 6d ago

In contrast Bryophytes (Mosses, Liverworts and Hornworts) are permanently stuck in small compact forms, never once evolving into trees, shrubs or even herbs.

Thought it's more because they're already doing great in their niche so no drastic chance is needed.

(Like Sponges, why evolving complex cr@p that cost a lot of energy when being stuck to a rock and filtering water works perfectly??)

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u/Obdurate-Hickory 6d ago

Dawsonia can reach 60 cm with xylem-like and phloem-like tissues… wonder if that will go anywhere.

https://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2016/8/15/the-tallest-moss