Question

Explain whether the wings of birds and bats are analogous or homologous.

Answer 1

Homologous structures have the same evolutionary origin and different functions. Analogous structures have different evolutionary origin but same function.

Analogies are the result of convergent evolution. Interestingly, though bird and bat wings are analogous as wings, as forelimbs they are homologous. Birds and bats did not inherit wings from a common ancestor with wings, but they did inherit forelimbs from a common ancestor with forelimbs.