analogous structures
nounUK /əˈnæl.ə.ɡəs ˈstrʌk.tʃəz/
US /əˈnæl.ə.ɡəs ˈstrʌk.tʃɚz/
Body parts that do the same job but are built in different ways.
The wings of a bird and the wings of a butterfly are analogous structures.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. Parts of different living things that look alike because they are used for the same purpose.
Flippers on a dolphin and fins on a fish are analogous structures for swimming.
3. Features that evolved separately but ended up serving a similar function.
The spiny quills of a porcupine and a hedgehog are analogous structures.
4. In biology class, structures compared by what they do rather than by shared ancestry.
Our teacher listed analogous structures to show how different animals solve the same problem.