Final answer:
Analogous structures are similar features in different species that have evolved independently due to convergent evolution, such as bat and insect wings. They are not inherited from a common ancestor but are adaptations to similar environmental challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
Similar structures that evolved independently in unrelated organisms are known as analogous structures. This phenomenon occurs due to convergent evolution, where similar characteristics arise in species that don't share a common ancestor but have adapted to similar environmental challenges. A famous example of analogous structures would be the wings of bats and insects; both allow for flight but emerge from very different evolutionary pathways.
Another example is the adaptation seen in the body shapes and appendages of aquatic animals like fishes and whales. These are unrelated species, yet display similar streamlined forms due to their need to navigate similarly through water. These structures evolved independently to perform the same function, fundamentally illustrating what analogous structures represent in the context of evolutionary biology.