Consider the following scenario: An animal is born with a shorter tail. This makes no difference to its ability to survive or reproduce, but as a result of pure luck, the animal survives, reproduces, and passes its shorter tail down to its offspring. Over time, the species develops a shorter tail.

What type of process is described in this scenario?

Which of the following statements most accurately describes convergent evolution? the process in which two similar species evolve separately from each other and share similar characteristics the process in which a single species evolves into two or more new species the process in which two entirely different species evolve in response to each other the process in which two different species evolve separately from each other but still share similar characteristics