What evolutionary phenomenon explains why phytosaurs and true crocodiles developed strikingly similar features?
Answer
Convergent evolution
The similarity in body plan between phytosaurs and crocodiles, despite their distant relation, is an example of convergent evolution, where environmental pressures shape different groups toward the most efficient design for a specific lifestyle.
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What extinct group does *Smilosuchus* belong to, despite its crocodile-like appearance?In phytosaurs like *Smilosuchus*, where were the nasal openings (nares) situated on the skull?What evolutionary phenomenon explains why phytosaurs and true crocodiles developed strikingly similar features?How did the dentition (teeth structure) of phytosaurs differ from that of crocodiles?What broader group, characterized by crocodile-line reptiles, includes both phytosaurs and modern crocodiles?During which geological period did *Smilosuchus* establish itself as an apex aquatic predator?Where are the nostrils of modern crocodiles located?In the context of archosaurs, *Smilosuchus* and its relatives are more accurately described as distant evolutionary cousins to crocodiles rather than what?What happened to the phytosaur lineage after the Triassic period?Which group includes modern crocodiles?