monophyletic
/ˌmɑnoʊfaɪˈlɛtɪk/
adjective
- Relating to a group of organisms that includes a common ancestor and all of its descendants.
- Biologists consider birds to be a monophyletic group because they all come from a single ancestor.
- The class Reptilia as traditionally defined is not monophyletic because it excludes birds.
- A monophyletic taxon is also called a clade.
Antonyms