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convergent E

 Both the "anteater" and "crab" forms are famous examples of convergent evolution, where unrelated species independently evolve similar body plans to adapt to similar environmental pressures. The anteater body plan has evolved more often in a shorter time frame than the crab body plan. 

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-mammals-evolved-ant-eaters-dinosaur.html

https://www.science.org/content/article/things-keep-evolving-anteaters-odd-animals-arose-least-12-separate-times


Anteater Evolution (Myrmecophagy)

  • Frequency and Speed: The myrmecophagy (ant- and termite-eating) body plan has evolved in mammals at least 12 separate times since the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.
  • Lineages: This adaptation has appeared across all three major divisions of mammals: placentals (like giant anteaters, aardvarks, and pangolins), marsupials (numbats), and monotremes (echidnas).
  • Driving Force: The primary driver is the immense abundance of ants and termites, which represent a massive, globally distributed food source. The long snout, sticky tongue, and powerful claws are effective solutions for accessing this resource.
  • Evolutionary Path: This is considered an evolutionary "one-way street" because the specialization makes it difficult to revert or change to another diet. 
Crab Evolution (Carcinization)
  • Frequency and Speed: The crab-like body plan (carcinization) has evolved at least five separate times within different groups of decapod crustaceans over a couple of hundred million years.
  • Lineages: This process occurs within the broader group of crustaceans, turning creatures like hermit crabs and squat lobsters into "imposter crabs" with a true crab form.
  • Driving Force: The compact, armored, and broad body with a tucked abdomen provides significant survival advantages, including better defense, stability in water, agility in crevices, and protection from predators.
  • Evolutionary Path: This design is highly effective for marine and some terrestrial environments, leading to its recurrent emergence in different lineages. 
Summary Comparison
Feature Evolution into AnteaterEvolution into Crab
Scientific NameMyrmecophagizationCarcinization
Times OccurredAt least 12 timesAt least 5 times
Time Frame~66 million years~200 million years
Groups AffectedAcross all major mammal divisionsWithin different decapod crustacean groups
Reason for SuccessExploiting the abundant ant/termite food sourceOptimized body plan for defense and agility in specific habitats
In short, while the idea of everything becoming a crab is a popular internet meme, the evolution into an anteater body plan is a more frequent and rapid occurrence in the history of mammals
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