homoplasy
/ˈhoʊməˌpleɪsi/
noun
- The phenomenon in which different species independently evolve similar traits that were not present in their common ancestor.
- When two plants from different continents develop the same flower shape, that is homoplasy at work.
- Homoplasy can make it tricky for scientists to build accurate family trees of species.
- The similar body shapes of sharks and dolphins are a result of homoplasy, not close kinship.
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