Shared derived traits are called ______ .

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks for the term used when traits are shared by members of a group due to derived characteristics. 
Option a: heteromorphies. This term is not standard in cladistics for shared traits and would be considered incorrect because it does not describe derived shared characters.
Option b: synapomorphies. This is the correct term. Synapomorphies are shared, derived characters that define monophyletic groups and indicate common ancestry. They distinguish clades by characters that evolved in a most recent common ancestor and are inherited by its descendants.
Option c: symplesiomorphies. These are shared ancestral traits, not derived ones. They can be common to multiple groups simply because the trait was present in a distant ancestor, so they do not define a clade.
Option d: paraphylies. This term refers to a grouping that includes a common ancestor but not all of its descendants, which is a taxonomic concept rather than a feature describing shared derived traits.
In summary, only synapomorphies (option b) describe shared derived traits that delineate clades; the other options refer to different concepts or do not capture the idea of derived similarity.

BIO 181 (001&002) FALL 2025 3B - Self-Check: Phylogenetic Trees (LO 3B.1, 3B.2)

Shared derived traits are called ______ .

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BIO 181 (001&002) FALL 2025 3B - Self-Check: Phylogenetic Trees (LO 3B.1, 3B.2)

Shared derived traits are called ______ .

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Please use this image to answer the following questions. 1: The sister taxa to humans. ____ 2: The lizard is most closely related to ____. ____ 3: The outgroup ____

Hair on humans and other hominids is _____ .

Use the phylogenetic tree below to answer the following: True or False? Plants are more closely related to protists than they are to fungi.

Use a specific one-word answer to receive credit.Ideally, when making phylogenetic trees, the taxa in the tree should be ___ .Please double check your spelling to make sure the word is spelled correctly. Thank you!

Gorillas’ bodies have hair, and their closest living relatives also have hair on their bodies. What type of characteristic is this?

Which part of the phylogenetic tree is the red arrow pointing to? Click Here if you are unable to see the image (opens in new window)

There is more than one correct way to show relationships using a phylogenetic tree. Three of the four trees displayed below show the same relationship between species A, B, C, D, and E. Which tree shows a different relationship?Tree 1 Tree 2 Tree 3 Tree 4

The opposable thumb of primates (lemurs, monkeys, apes (including humans)) is a / an ___ of all primates.*Opposable thumb is a thumb (first digit / finger of the hand) that can be placed opposite the fingers of the same hand.

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

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Please use this image to answer the following questions. 1: The sister taxa to humans. 2: The lizard is most closely related to . 3: The outgroup