Q.The wings of birds and butterflies is an example of a) Adaptive radiation b) convergent evolution c) divergent evolution d) variation

Step 1. A bird's wing has an internal bony skeleton (humerus, radius, ulna, carpals) covered with feathers, while a butterfly's wing is a thin, vein-supported membrane with no internal bones at all.

Step 2. Despite this completely different structural origin, both wing types independently evolved to serve the same function — flight.

Step 3. Structures that are different in origin but similar in function are, by definition, analogous structures, and the process producing them is convergent evolution — not divergent evolution, which describes structures of common origin diverging in function (e.g. vertebrate forelimbs). …

Check whether the compared structures share a common origin (divergent/homologous) or arose independently …

• Confusing analogous structures (convergent evolution) with homologous structures (divergent evolution). …