Question
What do you mean by analogous organs? Write in brief the analogous organs of animals and plants.
Answer
Analogous organs are organs that have a similar function and/or appearance in different species but have a different evolutionary origin. Here are some examples of analogous organs in animals and plants:
Analogous organs in animals:
- Wings of birds and bats
- Streamlined body shape and fins of sharks and dolphins
- Eyes of vertebrates and cephalopods
- Legs of insects and spiders
Analogous organs in plants:
- Thorns and spines of cacti and roses
- Convergent evolution of succulent tissues in cacti and other desert plants
- Convergent evolution of water storage structures in bromeliads and cacti
- Convergent evolution of carnivorous traps in different plant families