Cave-dwelling catfish and cave-dwelling salamanders share striking similarities: Both organisms lack pigmentation, and their eyes are reduced or absent. The most recent common ancestor to these organisms had normal pigmentation and fully developed eyes. The similarities between cave catfish and cave salamanders are an example of
A) phylogeny.
B) analogy.
C) homology.
D) exaptation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The similarities between cave catfish and cave salamanders are an example of analogy, which refers to similarities between organisms that are due to convergent evolution rather than shared ancestry. In this case, both organisms independently evolved similar traits (lack of pigmentation and reduced or absent eyes) as adaptations to the cave environment, not because they inherited these traits from a common ancestor with those traits.

Cave-Dwelling Catfish and Cave-Dwelling Salamanders Share Striking Similarities: Both Organisms