Correct option is A
The correct answer is (a).
Homoplasy refers to the independent evolution of similar traits in different species, not due to shared ancestry. In this case, wings evolved in bats, birds, and insects independently, making it an example of homoplasy. Despite these organisms having wings, they did not inherit them from a common ancestor with wings but rather developed them separately to adapt to their environments.
Incorrect option-
Option (b) is incorrect because bats, birds, and insects do not share a common winged ancestor; their wings evolved separately.
Option (c) is unrelated to the independent evolution of a trait and instead describes variability within a trait.
Option (d) involves shared ancestral traits retained across taxa, which is not the case for wings here since wings evolved independently in these groups.
