Novel traits inherited from a recent common ancestor that define a clade.
A synapomorphy is a new trait that arose in the last common ancestor of a clade. Feathers are shared by birds, while backbone is a shared ancestral trait for tetrapods. Convergence and reversal can mislead.
Homoplasy (convergence, reversal) confuses analysis. Outgroup comparison identifies ancestral states.
Remember: only shared derived traits indicate clade membership.
Novel traits inherited from a recent common ancestor that define a clade.
Shared Derived Characters is one of the 52 topics in Taxonomy & Biodiversity. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Paraphyletic and Polyphyletic, Cladograms, Monophyletic Groups.
Mammary glands define mammals.
Work through the Beginner topics in Taxonomy & Biodiversity first, such as Taxonomy, Binomial Nomenclature, Taxonomic Hierarchy, then return to Shared Derived Characters. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
The closest topics to Shared Derived Characters are Paraphyletic and Polyphyletic, Cladograms, Monophyletic Groups, Three Domains of Life. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Shared Derived Characters. To practise the whole of Taxonomy & Biodiversity, use the Taxonomy & Biodiversity quiz.
Shared Derived Characters: Novel traits inherited from a recent common ancestor that define a clade. Paraphyletic and Polyphyletic: Paraphyletic groups omit some descendants; polyphyletic groups lack the most recent common ancestor. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Paraphyletic and Polyphyletic and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Taxonomy & Biodiversity quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Paraphyletic groups omit some descendants; polyphyletic groups lack the most recent common ancestor.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversityBranching diagrams showing patterns of shared derived traits among taxa.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversityA group containing an ancestor and all of its descendants, called a clade.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversityBacteria, Archaea and Eukarya, based on fundamental cell differences and rRNA.
🗂️ Taxonomy & Biodiversity