What does convergent evolution describe?

Convergent evolution describes a phenomenon where species from different evolutionary backgrounds develop similar traits or adaptations in response to similar environmental challenges or ecological niches. This process occurs because the species, despite having different ancestral roots, face similar pressures that favor certain advantageous traits.

For instance, the streamlined body shape of dolphins (mammals) and sharks (fish) is a result of convergent evolution, as both have adapted to living in aquatic environments but evolved from different ancestors. This illustrates how unrelated organisms can independently evolve similar features when exposed to comparable environmental conditions.

The other options refer to different concepts in evolution, such as divergent evolution or speciation, which focus on variations within or among related species rather than the independent development of similarity observed in convergent evolution.