<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif">Convergent evolution&nbsp;is the independent evolution&nbsp;of similar features in species of different lineages. Convergent evolution creates&nbsp;analogous structures&nbsp;that have similar form or function but were not present in the last common ancestor of those groups.&nbsp;The cladistic&nbsp;term for the same phenomenon is&nbsp;homoplasy.&nbsp;The recurrent evolution&nbsp;of flight is a classic example of convergent evolution. Flying insects, birds and bats&nbsp;have all evolved the capacity of flight independently. They have &quot;converged&quot; on this useful trait.&nbsp;Convergent evolution is similar to but different from parallel evolution.&nbsp;Parallel evolution occurs when two independent but similar species evolve in the same direction and thus independently acquire similar characteristics</span></span></p>