Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
synapomorphy. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
synapomorphy, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
synapomorphy in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
synapomorphy you have here. The definition of the word
synapomorphy will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
synapomorphy, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From syn- + apomorphy.
Noun
synapomorphy (plural synapomorphies)
- (cladistics) A derived trait that is shared by two or more taxa of shared ancestry.
- Coordinate term: symplesiomorphy
2003, Eric Buffetaut, Jean-Michel Mazin, Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs, page 117:Another supposed synapomorphy of Rhamporhynchidae + Pterodactyloidea presented by Unwin (1995) is the subequal length of metacarpals I–III. In all non-pterodactyloid specimens where this region is known metacarpals I–III are about the same length. Therefore this feature cannot be used as a synapomorphy of Rhamporhynchidae + Pterodactyloidea.
Antonyms
- (antonym(s) of “derived trait that is shared”): plesiomorphy
Derived terms
See also