Re: The meaning of "convergence" in paleo.
Pat Dooley (patdooley@aol.com)
23 Dec 1994 01:39:53 -0500
>Convergence is defined as a
>similarity of characters between two species that _already_ share a
common
>habitat or way of life.
I give up. I thought I understood Dawkins explanation
of convergent evolution but apparently I have missed
some mysterious temporal dimension that specifically rules out human
hairlessness as having any relationship with any other examples of
mammalian hairlessness.
Convergence is the end result. When it has occurred, the two species
will share a common habitat. Then they will most likely diverge, carrying
some of their convergent evolutionary baggage with them.
Pat Dooley
|