What is a key distinction between convergent and parallel evolution?

Convergent evolution is characterized by the process where unrelated species develop similar traits or adaptations due to facing similar environmental pressures or selection factors. This means that even though the species do not share a recent common ancestor, they evolve similar characteristics because they are responding to comparable challenges in their environments. A classic example of this is the evolution of wings in bats and birds; both groups developed the capability of flight independently but adapted similarly due to their environments.

The focus here is on the fact that the similarities are a result of analogous evolution, where the traits serve similar functions despite arising independently in different evolutionary lineages. Recognizing the distinction between convergent and other forms of evolution is crucial for understanding how species adapt and evolve in response to their surroundings. The other choices do not align with the definitions or mechanisms of these evolutionary processes. For example, parallel evolution typically occurs in related species where similar traits evolve independently after diverging from a common ancestor, which is not the hallmark of convergent evolution.