Convergent Evolution and Aliens–Why Extra-terrestrials Will Probably Look Familiar

Why do fish, dolphins, whales, penguins, seals and other aquatic creatures have a smooth streamlined shape, with fins or some similar means of ensuring stability, and some sort of propulsive structure such as tails?  Also, looking into the fossil record, one can find the various aquatic reptiles such as the Ichthyosaur which looks amazingly like [...]