local minima in the hyperplane of evolution's loss function. probably also implies some vaguely broad proximity of the "crab" minima to other genetic archetypes in the latent coding manifold of phenotypic expression in order to explain a higher probability of transitioning/tunneling into the "crab" minimum.
Also probably reinforced by game theoretic adaptive evolutionary strategies between species.
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The optimal mode of locomotion in an aquatic environment (at least for medium-to-large animals that find themselves neutrally buoyant) represents a similar evolutionary minima/descent toward a "fish-like" shape and anatomy. There is a "best" way to move in water. Moving is important for survival. Therefore these creatures generally trend towards being more effective movers (absent other, non-locomotive descent vectors).
Can't any path-unique evolutionary convergence be described this way?
Why are we less surprised that both birds and bugs have wings?