The placental flying squirrel and the marsupial flying phalanger have both evolved membranous extensions for gliding in their respective forest habitats. Identify the type of evolution shown by them and the nature of their gliding structures.

Step-by-step solution

The placental flying squirrel and the marsupial flying phalanger are distantly related mammals that evolved in isolated geographical areas. They have developed similar phenotypic adaptations (membranous extensions for gliding) to survive in similar forest habitats. This independent evolution of similar features in different lineages is termed convergent evolution. Structures that evolve through convergent evolution perform similar functions but have different anatomical origins and are not derived from a common anc