What do we call adaptations that are similar due to environmental pressures but evolve independently?

Adaptations that arise independently in different species due to similar environmental pressures are termed analogous structures. These structures serve similar functions but do not share a common evolutionary origin. For example, the wings of insects and birds are both used for flight but evolved separately in each lineage. This independent evolution in response to similar selective pressures illustrates the concept of convergent evolution, where different organisms adapt in similar ways despite not being closely related.

Adaptive traits refer to features that enhance an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment, but this term does not specifically denote the independent evolution aspect. Homologous structures, on the other hand, are features that share a common ancestry but may serve different functions, like the forelimbs of humans and whales, which have a common evolutionary origin. Vestigial structures are remnants of features that had a function in an organism's ancestors but have lost their original purpose in the current organism.

By understanding these distinctions, it's clear why analogous structures correctly describe adaptations that evolve independently despite similar environmental challenges.