08-Oct-2020 Theme: 'Convergence'

(1) Acridotheres tristis and Manorina melanocephala are unrelated birds from different continents. However, they look similar, behave similarly, and both are regarded as pests in some parts of Australia. Even their common names sound similar – what are they?

Answer: Common myna and Noisy miner.

(2) What identifying physical features are almost identical in humans and koalas?

Answer: Fingerprints.

(3) Notoryctes typhlops is a desert-dwelling Australian marsupial, while Talpa europaea is a common European placental. Despite their different origins, the two species have many similarities. What are their common names?

Answer: Central Marsupial Mole (aka Itjaritjari) and European Mole.

(4) Themeda triandra is native to both Australia and southern Africa. In Afrikaans it is known commonly as Rooigras (‘rooi’ means ‘red). What is its common name in Australia?

Answer: Kangaroo grass or ‘roo grass’.

(5) What ability has evolved separately in whales and bats?

Answer: Echolocation.

Archive: