Question

ask yourself these questions: --> does it serve a function (i.e. does the organism use it?) if not, then it is probably vestigial. --> is it structurally similar? if yes, then it is probably homologous. --> does it serve a similar purpose has structural differences or evolved separately? if yes, it is probably analogous. evidence for evolution: evolutionary structures decide if each pair of structures are homologous, analogous or vestigial description of structures homologous, analogous or vestigial? explanation - give your reasoning a bees wings and a hawks wings an ostrichs wings and a penguins wings a human and a chimps opposable thumbs the tail of a whale and the tail of a fish

Explanation:

1. A bee's wings and a hawk's wings: They have different underlying structures and evolved separately for flight. Bees are insects and hawks are birds. So, they are analogous.
2. An ostrich's wings and a penguin's wings: Ostriches and penguins are birds. Their wings have a similar basic structure due to common - bird ancestry, but in ostriches they are vestigial for flight and in penguins they are adapted for swimming. They are homologous.
3. A human and a chimp's opposable thumbs: Humans and chimps are primates and share a common ancestor. The opposable thumbs have a similar structure and origin, so they are homologous.
4. The tail of a whale and the tail of a fish: Whales are mammals and fish are a different group of animals. Their tails have different internal structures and evolved separately for swimming, so they are analogous.

Answer:

Description of structures	Homologous, Analogous or Vestigial?	Explanation - give your reasoning
An ostrich's wings and a penguin's wings	Homologous	Similar basic structure due to common - bird ancestry
A human and a chimp's opposable thumbs	Homologous	Similar structure and origin as primates
The tail of a whale and the tail of a fish	Analogous	Different internal structures, evolved separately for swimming