A Different Causeof Resemblance : Convergent Evolution
Although organisms that are closely related share characteristics because of common descent, distantly related organisms can resemble one another for a different reason : convergent evolution, the independent evolution of similar features in different lineages. Consider marsupial mammals many of which live in Australia. Man supials are distinct from another group of mammals-the eutherians-few on which live in Australia. (Eutherian comlete their embryonic development in the uterus, whereas marsupialer)