Glossary

monophyletic

Used in reference to a taxonomic group containing all descendants of a single, often hypothetical, common ancestor, often characterised by one or more synapomorphies. A clade is a monophyletic group.

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Related terms

clade
A group of organisms sharing homologous features, believed to have evolved from a common ancestor following the principles of cladistics; a monophyletic group; a grouping hypothesised on the basis of phylogenetic information.
convergent evolution
Independant acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated, monophyletic, lineages as a result of inhabiting similar environments or ecological niches.
paraphyletic
In phylogenetics, a paraphyletic taxon is, loosely, an artificial grouping that does not include all descendants from the common ancestor of its members; monophyletic group from which one or more of clades is omitted in order to form an additional group.
sister group
In cladistics, a monophyletic group more closely related to the group in question than any other, i.e., the closest outgroup. Sister groups normally share an immediate common ancestor.
synapomorphy
In cladistics, a character or trait shared by two or more taxonomic groups and derived from a common ancestral form, whose ancestor in turn did not possess that trait.
taxonomic
Of or relating to taxonomy.

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