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Convergent Evolution Visualizations

Interactive Sankey diagrams showing how independent lineages evolved similar solutions

Flight

Independent Origins: 6+

Flight evolved independently in insects, pterosaurs, birds, bats, and human technology.

  • 🦟 Insects: 400 million years ago
  • 🦖 Pterosaurs: 230 million years ago
  • 🦅 Birds: 150 million years ago
  • 🦇 Bats: 60 million years ago
  • ✈️ Aircraft: 120 years ago
View Flight Diagram
Vision

Independent Origins: 40+

Vision has evolved independently at least 40 times, from simple light detection to complex camera eyes.

  • 👁️ Compound eyes (arthropods)
  • 👁️ Camera eyes (vertebrates)
  • 👁️ Mirror eyes (scallops)
  • 👁️ Scanning eyes (jumping spiders)
  • 📷 Digital cameras
View Vision Diagram
Intelligence

Independent Origins: Multiple

Complex information processing evolved in various forms across different lineages.

  • 🧠 Vertebrate brains
  • 🐙 Cephalopod intelligence
  • 🐝 Insect collective intelligence
  • 🤖 Artificial intelligence
  • 🌐 Network intelligence
View Intelligence Diagram

Independent Origins: Many

Complex social structures evolved independently across diverse species.

  • 🐜 Eusociality (ants, bees, termites)
  • 🐺 Pack behavior (wolves, lions)
  • 🐠 Schooling/flocking
  • 🦍 Primate societies
  • 🏢 Human organizations
View Social Behavior Diagram

About Convergent Evolution

Convergent evolution occurs when organisms independently evolve similar traits or solutions in response to similar environmental challenges or selective pressures. These visualizations use Sankey diagrams to illustrate how different lineages arrive at comparable solutions through distinct evolutionary pathways.

Key Features of the Visualizations:

Understanding the Diagrams: