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Analogy (2 of 2) Bird and bat wing phylogeny Image caption: Bird and bat wings are analogous — that is, they have separate evolutionary origins, but are superficially similar because they evolved to serve the same function. Analogies are the result of convergent evolution. << Back to search results

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Analogy (1 of 2) Bird and bat wing diagrams When we examine bird wings and bat wings closely, we see that there are some major differences. Bat wings consist of flaps of skin stretched between the bones of the fingers and arm. Bird wings consist of feathers extending all along the arm. These structural dissimilarities suggest that bird wings and bat wings were not inherited from a common ancestor with wings.