Convergent evolution. Historical artwork of a hummingbird hawk moth (left) and a hummingbird (right) feeding. These animals show convergent evolution,

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Convergent evolution. Historical artwork of a hummingbird hawk moth (left) and a hummingbird (right) feeding. These animals show convergent evolution, the evolution of similar traits by unrelated species that occupy similar niches. Both the moth and the bird feed on nectar from flowers, and both hover in mid-air to do so. The hummingbird has a long thin beak and tongue to reach the nectar, while the humming bird hawk moth has a long proboscus. The animals are so similar that the moth is often mistaken for the hummingbird. Taken from 'The Naturalist on the Amazons' by the nineteenth century naturalist Henry Bates.

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Size: 4015px × 3175px
Photo credit: © CORDELIA MOLLOY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1800s, 19th, animal, animals, artwork, biological, biology, bird, black--white, century, convergent, duo, evolution, evolutionary, fauna, feeding, flower, genetics, hawk, hovering, hummingbird, illustration, macroglossum, mid-air, monochrome, moth, nature, nectar-feeders, pair, plant, probiscus, stellatarum, tonge, trochilidae, wildlife, zoological, zoology