They are not the same species, I almost believed it

In the human world, people often look alike. It's not that we can't tell them apart, it's that they look too similar...

Animals may also look alike, and even wear the same clothes! They are not of the same species, but they look the same, which makes us doubt our eyes...

Can you tell the difference?

How can unrelated animals look similar? Is it just coincidence?

Face to face:

Red Panda and Raccoon

Red Panda

Raccoon

Red pandas and raccoons are similar in size, and the most obvious difference between them is their fur color. In appearance, red pandas are mostly reddish brown or reddish brown, while raccoons are mostly black and gray. They belong to different species, red pandas belong to the family Ailuridae, while raccoons belong to the family Procyonidae. Red pandas have the same diet as giant pandas, and they also like to eat bamboo and bamboo shoots, while raccoons are omnivores, and they will eat insects, small animals, and fruits of plants.

Red pandas and giant pandas are not actually the same species. They are more closely related to weasels, skunks, etc. In my country, due to habitat destruction, the number of red pandas is decreasing. It is an endangered species and is a Class II protected animal in my country.

Hummingbird · Hummingbird Hawk-Moth

Hummingbird

Hummingbird Hawk-Moth

The second pair of creatures is the hummingbird and the hummingbird hawk-moth. They look similar, both with long arms that suck nectar. The hummingbird hawk-moth is very similar to the hummingbird in appearance and flying speed, except that it has no feathers. It is a particularly interesting animal and is called the "four-legged beast" in the insect world. In addition to being very similar to hummingbirds, they are also like bees and butterflies, foraging in flowers and making a "buzzing" sound when flying. But despite this, hummingbirds and hummingbird hawk-moths have no biological relationship. Hummingbirds are birds, while hummingbird hawk-moths are moths. In terms of closeness of relationship, hummingbird hawk-moths are closer relatives to butterflies.

The same shirt:

Hedgehog · Echidna

hedgehog

Echidna

Hedgehogs are no strangers to everyone. But something with thorns on its body may not be a hedgehog, but an echidna. Echidna is one of the most primitive mammals in the world, a close relative of the platypus, and female echidnas even retain their pouches.

Although they both have spikes, echidnas and hedgehogs are two completely different species of animals. Hedgehogs are insectivorous mammals that feed on insects or small reptiles, but echidnas mainly feed on ants and termites, which is very similar to the habits of platypuses. In addition, hedgehogs have teeth and are viviparous, and can produce 1-2 litters per year, with 3-6 puppies per litter. However, echidnas do not have teeth and are oviparous, laying only one egg per year, and have a lower reproductive capacity.

Earthworms and Caecilians

earthworm

Caecilians

The two animals above look so similar that they seem to be close relatives of earthworms. But in fact, the animal below is called a caecilian, an amphibian that is closer to frogs and salamanders. Caecilians belong to the order Gnathospermida, and their limbs have degenerated and come in a variety of colors, ranging from black to reddish brown. Caecilians are very similar to earthworms, the biggest difference between the two being that caecilians eat with their mouths and have eyes. Earthworms, on the other hand, are terrestrial annelids with inconspicuous heads that prefer shade and avoid light, and are more common in people's lives.

Ants and Spiders

Ant

Ant Spider

At first glance, no one would associate the second picture with a spider. It is actually a spider - an ant spider. As the name suggests, this spider looks a lot like an ant. Although both ants and ants are arthropods, ants belong to the class Insecta, while ant spiders belong to the class Arachnida. They are very different in terms of blood relationship. In addition, ant spiders feed on ants and other small insects. They can also jump and spin silk, which is a different way of life from ants.

Snakes and Lizards

snake

Lizard

Basilisks are lizards that look like snakes. They look like snakes, but they are lizards without limbs. The biggest difference between them and snakes is the scales on their abdomens. Although snakes and basilisks are both reptiles, they are very distantly related. Snakes live in a variety of environments, some live in caves, some live in water, and snakes have a complex diet, making them one of the most widely distributed animals in the world. Basilisks mostly feed on earthworms, slugs, and beetles, and are mainly distributed in the tropical rainforests of South America.

Penguin · Great Auk

Penguin, the following pictures are from pixabay

Great Auk

Penguins are no strangers to everyone. They live in the Antarctic continent and belong to the order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae. They are called "the boats of the sea" and can survive and reproduce in an environment of more than 60 degrees below zero. Another creature, the great auk, looks very similar to penguins. They also have black backs and white bellies, and it is very easy for people to mistake them at first glance.

However, the Great Auk is very distantly related to penguins. It belongs to the Auk family in the class Aves, and is more closely related to the sea murres and razorbilled auks. In terms of reproductive capacity, the Great Auk can only lay one egg at a time, and its reproductive capacity is extremely low. They were once widely distributed on various islands around the Atlantic Ocean, but were slaughtered because of people's greed for their feathers, and are now in a state of extinction. On July 3, 1844, the last Great Auk was killed, and people have never seen them since then.

Are these just coincidences?

Why do completely unrelated animals look so similar? Is this just a coincidence of nature?

Scientists have proposed the concepts of "convergent evolution" and "mimicry" for this phenomenon. They believe that there are two main reasons for the similar appearance of animals in nature. One reason is convergent evolution, which means that similar appearance characteristics gradually evolve in similar living environments. For example, sharks and whales, although they belong to different species, have similar appearances.

whale

The other part is due to mimicry, that is, organisms imitate the appearance of other organisms for the purpose of self-protection or hunting. Ant spiders are a good example of mimicry. They use their similarity to ants to hunt and prey on ants.

Survival of the fittest, there are many such cases in nature. Different species will tend to make the same or similar choices due to the external environment during the evolution process, which always brings many surprises and deep thoughts to people. And this is the wisdom of nature.

END

Reviewer: Zhu Guangsi, member of Beijing Science Writers Association.

Tadpole Musical Notation original article, please indicate the source when reprinting

Editor/Xiao Xitushuo