Cladistics
- Pronunciation
- /kla-dih-tikss/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Singular
- Cladistics
- Plural
- Cladistics
Definition
A phylogenetic system that groups organisms based on shared, derived characteristics (synapomorphies) and uses these to reconstruct evolutionary relationships.
Etymology
From Greek 'klados', meaning 'branch' or 'twig', and the suffix '-istics', relating to the study of.
Example
Cladistics is used to determine the evolutionary relationships between different groups of organisms, such as insects.
Related Terms
Usage Notes
Cladistics relies on the principle of parsimony, which states that the simplest explanation is usually the most likely.