autapomorphy
Sign in to savethumb|279px|Phylogenies showing the terminology used to describe different patterns of ancestral and derived character or trait states (such as the evolution of a [[flatfish).]] In phylogenetics, an autapomorphy is a distinctive feature, known as a derived trait, that is unique to a given taxon. That is, it is found only in one taxon, but not found in any others or outgroup taxa, not even those most closely related to the focal taxon (which may be a species, family or in general any clade). It can therefore be considered as an apomorphy in relation to a single taxon. The word autapomorphy, int
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thumb|279px|Phylogenies showing the terminology used to describe different patterns of ancestral and derived character or trait states (such as the evolution of a [[flatfish).]] In phylogenetics, an autapomorphy is a distinctive feature, known as a derived trait, that is unique to a given taxon. That is, it is found only in one taxon, but not found in any others or outgroup taxa, not even those most closely related to the focal taxon (which may be a species, family or in general any clade). It can therefore be considered as an apomorphy in relation to a single taxon. The word autapomorphy, introduced in 1950 by German entomologist Willi Hennig, is derived from the Ancient Greek words (autós), meaning "self"; (apó), meaning "away from"; and (morphḗ), meaning "shape, form".
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