Question

Even though rodents known as sugar gliders and flying squirrels are members of distinctly different groups of organisms and live on different continents, they possess similar characteristics. This is an example of __________.

Answer 1

convergent evolution.

Step-by-step explanation:

When organisms of distantly related species or groups are found in similar environmental conditions, they develop some similar features which are otherwise not present in their ancestral species. This is called convergent evolution. Convergent evolution also results in the development of similar traits in the distantly related organisms that are found in distantly located geographical regions having similar environmental conditions. Therefore, the presence of the same features in rodents and flying squirrels represent convergent evolution.