Wordsmith.org
Posted By: Wordwind Two Animals - 03/06/04 06:03 PM
What are some examples of animals that appear to be on the surface very similar, but are, in fact, quite different in at least one distinctive regard?

Posted By: Faldage Re: Two Animals - 03/06/04 06:15 PM
There are numerous marsupials that, through environmental pressures, appear very similar to placentals that fill equivalent environmental niches. I'm thinking specifically of a wolf-like marsupial.

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mammal/marsupial/marsupialwolf.gif

Posted By: Capfka Re: Two Animals - 03/06/04 08:04 PM
Use the past tense, that man!

Posted By: wwh Re: Two Animals - 03/06/04 08:27 PM
Dear Faldage: Der Quibblemeister asks is it not
filling a similar niche in predator hierarchy
rather than adjusting to environmental pressure?

Posted By: Faldage Re: Two Animals - 03/06/04 09:51 PM
Methinks Pfranz is trying to out quibble you, Dr Bill.

Posted By: Capfka Re: Two Animals - 03/07/04 01:41 PM


- joe [a quibble is worth a thousand facts] sunday

Posted By: wwh Re: Two Animals - 03/07/04 02:16 PM
Dear WW: Not a really good example, but the lamprey eel
and the true (Sargasso?) eels look quite similar except for
mouth parts.

Here's a URL with a lot of pictures of fish found in Pennsylvania:
http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:qDo3fZN4SbsJ:sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fish_Boat/pafish/fishhtms/chapindx.htm+picture+lamprey+eel&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Sorry that URL made screen go wide.

© Wordsmith.org