Adaptive radiation is the process of evolution of different species in a given geographical area starting from a point and literally radiating to other areas of geography (habitats).
When more than one adaptive radiation appeared to have occurred in an isolated geographical area (e.g., Australia), we observe that different placental mammals and Australian marsupials evolved to resemble each other. For example, the Tasmanian wolf (a marsupial) and the placental wolf (a placental mammal) show striking similarities despite their distant evolutionary origins.
When two or more unrelated or distantly related groups of organisms evolve similar traits as an adaptation to similar environmental niches, the phenomenon is known as convergent evolution. This is distinct from divergent evolution, where related species evolve different traits.
Final Answer: convergent evolution
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