Question

The viceroy butterfly and monarch butterfly are mimics of one another. They both have a similar orange and black pattern on their wings and possess similar wing shapes. Both butterfly species are unpalatable to bird predators, yet both butterflies belong to two different species.
This similar appearance is most likely due to which evolutionary mechanism?

• A. Sympatric speciation
• B. Sexual selection
• C. Convergent evolution
• D. Divergent evolution
• E. Allopatric speciation

Answer 1

The correct option is C Convergent evolution

A. Sympatric association is the formation of species within a single population by reproductive isolation or without geographical isolation.

B. Sexual selection is a evolutionary model which describes the selection of mate by an organism based on some characteristics.

C. Convergent evolution is a process during which organisms with different evolutionary history evolve similar phenotypic adaptations in response to common environmental conditions. Hence, analogous organs are formed which have different basic structure but perform similar functions.

D. Divergent evolution is a process in which same basic organ becomes adapted by specialisation to different functions.

E. Changing climate may isolate population on mountain peaks or in remnant lakes, or rare migrants may colonise new areas such as the Galapagos and Hawaiian islands. This geographic isolation is termed as allopatry and gives rise to allopatric speciation.

Hence the similar appearance of the wings of viceroy butterfly and the monarch butterfly is due to convergent evolution.

So, the correct answer is 'Convergent evolution'.