# What are your favourite examples of convergent evolution? **URL:** \ **Category:** Nature Talk\ **Created:** [May 4, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487 "2026-05-04T16:29:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aaravmishra](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/aaravmishra/32/33901_2.png) [@aaravmishra](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/aaravmishra)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/1 "2026-05-04T16:29:36Z")
This is my first nature talk post here but I think this is relevant so here we go. In case you do not know convergent evolution is when two more or less unrelated species evolve to look similar, especially on different parts of the globe. Just like things evolve into crabs. Here are starters (some species are obscure and it is hard to find data on them on the web; Those ones I’ve linked to observations or specimens. Other ones will come up simply by searching Google) - Hamma spp. are the Old world equivalent of the New world Heteronotus. (Both Membracidae but different subfamilies) [Gargarina carinata](https://zsicollections.in/specimen/ZSI0000007894) is the Old world equivalent of New world Cymbomorpha (just it is black; Membracidae, yet again separate subfamilies which evolved independently) Centrochares spp. are similar to New world [Daimon serricornis](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220679160) and Notocera spp. Some fulgorid nymphs look like antlions. Cephalelini and Paradorydiini are unrelated but similar. [Hemisphaerius astridae](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/108065117) looks like Chilocorus circumdatus. Let’s see what you’ve got! ---
**Author:** ![astra\_the\_dragon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/astra_the_dragon/32/37251_2.png) [@astra\_the\_dragon](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/astra_the_dragon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/2 "2026-05-04T16:42:26Z")
I love how Hummingbirds and Sunbirds evolved to look and behave so similarly, when the former are in the Americas and the latter on Eurasia. ---
**Author:** ![AdamWargon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/adamwargon/32/44649_2.png) [@AdamWargon](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/AdamWargon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/3 "2026-05-04T16:42:55Z")
Aarav, One of my favourite posts on the iNat Forum applies to this: > [@Confusing animals/Taxonomy Misconceptions](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/confusing-animals-taxonomy-misconceptions/29192/4): > > I guess it depends how in-depth you want to go! The more you look at different types of organisms, the more you start finding out weird things about what is and isn’t related. Here are just a few examples that I can think of: > > The slow worm, sometimes called a deaf adder or a blind worm, is neither a worm nor a snake, but a type of legless lizard. But snakes themselves are actually a type of legless lizard as well! The extinct mosasaurs were also a specialised type of lizard, but New Zealand’s tuatara is not a lizard at all despite looking very much like one. > > The killer whale is a species of dolphin, but all dolphins are themselves a type of whale, so that one’s not really a big deal. > > The sawshark is a type of shark, but the very similar sawfish is instead a ray despite looking very much like a shark. > > Termites look very much like ants and are sometimes called ‘white ants’, but they are not closely related, and in fact termites are a type of cockroach, whereas ants (and bees as well) are a type of wasp! > > Similarly, aphids are sometimes called ‘greenflies’, but they are not a type of fly at all - and neither are dragonflies, butterflies, sawflies, or mayflies. > > And oddly enough, insects themselves are actually a type of crustacean! Within crustaceans there are many crazy things that don’t make sense - e.g. hermit crabs are not actually a type of true crab, and mantis shrimp are definitely not shrimp! > > Caecilians look rather like large earthworms, or perhaps an odd snake, but they are actually amphibians. Blind snakes are also often mistaken for worms, but they are indeed snakes as the name suggests. > > Some animals, like corals or sponges, may be mistaken for plants or for each other, but of course they are animals and they are not very closely-related to each other either. > > Eels and sea snakes may easily be confused for each other, and there are many different types of fish that have taken on an eel-like body but are not closely related. > > As well as harvestmen like you mentioned, there are also many different arachnid groups that might be mistaken for spiders and scorpions - vinegaroons, amblypygids, solifuges, schizomids, and even non-arachnids like sea spiders, bat flies, some crabs, and mimics like the spiny leaf insect. > > Jellyfish, comb jellies, and salps look very similar to each other, but none of them are closely-related at all. > > Eagles, hawks, and kites are all closely-related, but falcons are completely different, as are owls and their unrelated lookalikes, frogmouths. > > Worms are probably the worst of them all! Earthworms, tapeworms, ribbon worms, peanut worms, nematode worms, acorn worms, ship worms, penis worms (yes really!), acoel worms, tongue worms, thorny-headed worms, horsehair worms, horseshoe worms, slow worms, jaw worms, arrow worms, and velvet worms are _ **all** _ in completely different phyla, so they are about as distantly-related as it is possible to get within the animal kingdom! And Caleb @upupa-epops has some great examples in this thread: [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/your-misled-moments-with-convergent-evolution/](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/your-misled-moments-with-convergent-evolution/) ---
**Author:** ![aaravmishra](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/aaravmishra/32/33901_2.png) [@aaravmishra](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/aaravmishra)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/4 "2026-05-04T17:08:46Z")
Wow. Also I forgot to mention that Old world and New world vultures are very unrelated; And Old world vultures are part of the [Accipitridae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accipitridae) which contains Hawks, eagles and much more and are themselves classified into two separate subfamilies, the Gypaetinae and Aegypiinae. ---
**Author:** ![dlevitis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/dlevitis/32/78796_2.png) [@dlevitis](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/dlevitis)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/5 "2026-05-04T17:19:38Z")
I like the deep structural convergences, like the multiple origins of complex eyes, pass-through-guts, jointed limbs, lichenization, trees, hairs, etc. ---
**Author:** ![tjeales](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tjeales/32/28691_2.png) [@tjeales](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tjeales)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/6 "2026-05-04T17:49:03Z")
I have a soft spot for raptorial forelegs. Those of preying mantises are famously similar to Mantispid lacewings but also in Ochthera sp. the Mantid Shore Flies. Other examples are giant water bugs Belostomatidae and outside of insects in Mantis Shrimp Stomatopoda and Whip Scorpions. ---
**Author:** ![upupa-epops](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/upupa-epops/32/1972_2.png) [@upupa-epops](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/upupa-epops)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/7 "2026-05-04T18:27:45Z")
At least Cathartiformes is now sibling to Accipitriformes and together they’re sibling to Strigiformes, so most of the birds of prey are together. I remember when I was a kid they were saying New World vultures were related to storks. Except now falcons and caracaras are way off in a weird position beside parrots and passerines while kites are scattered across Accipitridae. I suppose Secretarybird is convergent with Red-legged Seriema and probably various other extinct Cariamiformes. ---
**Author:** ![roadside\_rambler](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/roadside_rambler/32/60180_2.png) [@roadside\_rambler](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/roadside_rambler)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/8 "2026-05-04T20:09:08Z")
My favorite example is _Trametes betulina,_ the Gilled Polypore, which is exactly what it sounds like - a polypore mushroom that independently evolved gills. There’s also a gilled bolete. ---
**Author:** ![danly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/danly/32/42066_2.png) [@danly](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/danly)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 1:55pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/9 "2026-05-05T13:55:13Z")
Downy and Hairy woodpeckers, both frequent visitors to my feeders [https://www.audubon.org/news/theres-new-theory-why-downy-and-hairy-woodpeckers-look-so-alike](https://www.audubon.org/news/theres-new-theory-why-downy-and-hairy-woodpeckers-look-so-alike) ---
**Author:** ![aaravmishra](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/aaravmishra/32/33901_2.png) [@aaravmishra](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/aaravmishra)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/10 "2026-05-05T14:38:55Z")
Wow. Amazing example. I nearly failed to understand the difference. ---
**Author:** ![safron](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/safron/32/13972_2.png) [@safron](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/safron)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/11 "2026-05-05T15:27:26Z")
My favorite examples are the odd convergence between some African and North American bird species. the [Eastern Meadowlark](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/9528-Sturnella-magna) and [Yellow-throated Longclaw](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14104-Macronyx-croceus) are nearly indistinguishable visually despite being completely unrelated to one another, being in very different families! The [Red-winged Blackbird](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/259413908) and the [Long-tailed Widowbird](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/319542966) also look strikingly similar. ---
**Author:** ![danly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/danly/32/42066_2.png) [@danly](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/danly)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/12 "2026-05-05T20:52:55Z")
yup, and they share the same range, rather than being on opposite sides of the world! Sometimes they will be on opposite sides of a suet feeder at the same time - although usually the Downys will defer to the larger Hairys and wait nearby. You have to get good pix of the beaks and the bars (or absence of) on the tails, for ID purposes! Downy: ![DSC0620](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/e/7/e7707d4da7074a841c1addf30d858e02187be4f5.jpeg) Hairy: ![DSC0612](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/1/0/10b0df2fe5aed33ee280bc58900646ff4d23e9b8.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![vbjanos](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/vbjanos/32/28910_2.png) [@vbjanos](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/vbjanos)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/13 "2026-05-11T14:17:46Z")
Awn with twisted column to drive the seed into the ground Austrostipa hemipogon (monocot) [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/356120841](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/356120841) Erodium crinitum (dicot) [https://spapps.environment.sa.gov.au/SeedsOfSA/speciesinformation.html?rid=1763](https://spapps.environment.sa.gov.au/SeedsOfSA/speciesinformation.html?rid=1763) ---
**Author:** ![phma](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/phma/32/54376_2.png) [@phma](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/phma)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 7:26pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/14 "2026-05-11T19:26:12Z")
Here’s one from my Fictionary wordlist: mantella, n. A poisonous frog endemic to Madagascar, resembling but unrelated to the dendrobat. Mantellas and dendrobats (which are endemic to Central and South America) are in different subfamilies, but both are brightly colored and poisonous. Another example of convergence, going from memory, is in the development of eyes. Insect eyes and mammal eyes are of completely different design and the genes that direct their development are different. But the gene that tells where to put the eye is the same. ---
**Author:** ![quyksilver](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/quyksilver/32/71674_2.png) [@quyksilver](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/quyksilver)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/15 "2026-06-12T21:45:05Z")
People talk a lot about carcinisation, but that’s only happened in decapoda–the real example imo is moles! The mole body plan has evolved numerous times over many taxas, including in arthropods. We’ve got: Your true moles ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/1/e/1e843546fe13ceab556bfdcd00942169ad78b18a.jpeg) Golden moles, which are only as closely related to true moles in both being placental mammals: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/e/8/e818d450de889d898858e55c3f7ea675c1c209a4.jpeg) Mole rats: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/5/9/59cad1d0cc4b719a56613c335402989ea45c2b7c.jpeg) Fairy armadillo: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/6/0/604485020ba144cfd261ef01cf19735cbc27a4bf.jpeg) Tenrecs: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/e/4/e4de83a110b4cd5d94de2e7263fe498fdc4b9027.jpeg) Zokors: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/0/6/0681f1158ba10900b90b5d7ea74843628a841e35.jpeg) Marsupial moles: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/9/d/9d15c8dc4b99e512097ee62a4e7a3cdb15f81a44.jpeg) Bipes lizards: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/3/e/3e483362cc6cd5c6a4fef9ff4e28e079929eeeef.jpeg) Mole crickets: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/e/f/ef02bf147e9e698d401f0526630f79c27eefa64e.jpeg) Sandgropers: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/d/2/d271db829c674d576c27fea1d44c74aad575f197.jpeg) Mole crabs: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/2/f/2f7c724391fc605561287422399dd616f63c4020.jpeg) Raninid crabs: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/6/e/6e247446b521599a260d4a387062c5658ba3044a.jpeg) It turns out how similar to how most fish and birds are shaped similarly, if you live in the soil and need to dig, you get a similar body plan! ---
**Author:** ![insectilluminatigetshrekt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/insectilluminatigetshrekt/32/50174_2.png) [@insectilluminatigetshrekt](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/insectilluminatigetshrekt)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/16 "2026-06-12T23:50:09Z")
![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/6/4/64542f6a6e646f146116318a879a6a89b02e983f.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![rynxs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/rynxs/32/22529_2.png) [@rynxs](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/rynxs)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 3:27am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/17 "2026-06-13T03:27:02Z")
To bring some plants in: 1. _Cuscuta_ (dodders) and _Cassytha_ (laurel dodders). 2. _Hyobanche sanguinea_ and _Sarcodes sanguinea._ 3. Podostemaceae are flowering plants, not algae. See also _Hydrostachys_ and _Caulerpa muelleri_. 4. _Nelumbo_ (water lotuses) and _Nymphaea_ (waterlilies). 5. _Euphorbia_ sect. _Euphorbia_ and Cactaceae. 6. The three pitcher plant families (Cephalotaceae, Nepenthaceae, Sarraceniaceae) are completely unrelated. _Triantha occidentalis_, _Byblis_, _Roridula_, and _Stylidium_ are unrelated to the Caryophyllales, which contains _Drosera_, _Drosophyllum_, and _Triphyophyllum_, all in different families. 7. _Salvinia_, _Phyllanthus fluitans_, and _Limnobium spongia_. Also _Wolffiella_ and _Riccia fluitans_. 8. Apodanthaceae and _Arceuthobium_. 9. Crassulacean acid metabolism has evolved independently at least 60+ times in 35+ plant families and is acquired through adaptation to the polar opposite environments of xeric climates or living underwater. 10. “Trees.” etc. ---
**Author:** ![aaravmishra](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/aaravmishra/32/33901_2.png) [@aaravmishra](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/aaravmishra)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 5:43am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/18 "2026-06-13T05:43:14Z")
Trees. lol. That is such a great example. Banana, bamboo, sugarcane are some - and they are other trees too that aren’t trees. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 5:43am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-are-your-favourite-examples-of-convergent-evolution/78487/19 "2026-08-12T05:43:41Z")
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