Cladogram
- Pronunciation
- /kla-do-gram/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Singular
- Cladogram
- Plural
- Cladograms
Definition
A branching diagram that depicts inferred evolutionary relationships between organisms. It shows the hypothesized evolutionary history and lineage of a group.
Etymology
From Greek 'clad-', meaning 'branch', and '-gramma', meaning 'something written or drawn'.
Example
A cladogram can illustrate the evolutionary relationships between different species of butterflies.
Related Terms
- Phylogenetic tree
- Tree
- Evolution
- Phylogeny
Usage Notes
Cladograms are based on shared characteristics and are used to infer evolutionary relationships.