Polyphyletic group
- Pronunciation
- /pol-ee-fih-LET-ik groop/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Plural
- Polyphyletic groups
Definition
A group of organisms that do not share a single common ancestor. Members of a polyphyletic group are assembled based on shared traits or characteristics, but these traits are not necessarily present in their most recent common ancestor.
Etymology
From Greek 'poly-', meaning 'many', and 'phyletic' referring to the evolutionary lineage.
Example
The grouping of insects based on wings is polyphyletic because it includes both winged and wingless insects, which evolved independently.
Related Terms
Usage Notes
Polyphyletic groups are not considered valid taxonomic groups in modern systematics.