The arm of a man.
Species may have similar appearances and structure but different genetic and evolutionary paths. For example, the wing of a fly and the wing of the bird.
Homologous structures. These are anatomical structures that have a similar origin in a common ancestor but have modified over time to serve different functions in different species. In this case, the forelimb structure of the bat's wing and the flipper of the porpoise are homologous structures.
how is the structure of a penguin similar to that of an eagle
Homologous structures are features with a similar anatomical origin but have different functions, indicating common ancestry, such as the limbs of vertebrates. Analogous structures have similar functions but different anatomical origins, suggesting they evolved independently due to similar environmental pressures, like the wings of birds and insects.
A bastard wing is a tuft of feathers borne by the bony thumb-like structure in a bird's wing.
A bird's wing bone
The bird's wing is most similar to a human arm because both structures have a similar skeletal layout with long bones (humerus, radius, and ulna in humans; humerus, radius, and ulna in birds) supporting the limb and connected by joints. The bird's wing, however, is modified with feathers for flight.
A bird without wing
Homologous structures are similar structures that related species inherit from a common ancestor. These structures may have different functions in different species but share a similar underlying anatomy, suggesting shared evolutionary origins. Examples include the wing of a bird and the flipper of a whale, both being modified versions of the forelimb structure shared by their common ancestor.
The similarity in bone structure between the wing of a bat and the flipper of a whale suggests that bats and whales share a common evolutionary ancestor. This phenomenon is known as homology, where different species exhibit similar anatomical features due to descent from a shared ancestor, despite having evolved in different environments and for different functions. It highlights the concept of convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar traits as adaptations to their environments.
The wing of a bat. The leg of a horse...
slow flying bird