You are viewing a single thread.
View all comments View context
15 points

Counterpoint, why do dolphins and sharks look so alike when they have a completely different phylogenetic tree? They separately developed traits that were very well suited to the medium of water. Convergent evolution means that it isn’t entirely unlikely that whatever we may find has similar traits to beings on earth, because we all exist in a universe of solids, liquids, and gasses.

permalink
report
parent
reply
10 points
*

Counter-counterpoint: both species come from the same tree of life, several of their traits taken for granted come from previous species’ adaptation, e.g. bilateral symmetry. When you see, say, a molusk with the same bodyplan as a shark, we can talk about it being a common possibility.

permalink
report
parent
reply
7 points

What about the whole crabification thing?

permalink
report
parent
reply
10 points

While carcinisation does exist as a phenomenon, I believe all examples involve animals of the same order, i.e. it’s even less extreme than comparing a shark and a dolphin.

permalink
report
parent
reply

Memes

!memes@lemmy.ml

Create post

Rules:

  1. Be civil and nice.
  2. Try not to excessively repost, as a rule of thumb, wait at least 2 months to do it if you have to.

Community stats

  • 8.9K

    Monthly active users

  • 12K

    Posts

  • 264K

    Comments