Derived character states shared by clade members are called
A)ancestral traits.
B)homoplasies.
C)synapomorphies.
D)plesiomorphies.
E)symplesiomorphies.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Synapomorphies are derived character states that are shared by clade members and indicate common ancestry. Ancestral traits (A) are shared by all members of a group and do not indicate common ancestry. Homoplasies (B) are similarities in traits that are not due to common ancestry but rather convergence or parallel evolution. Plesiomorphies (D) are ancestral traits that are shared by all members of a group. Symplesiomorphies (E) are ancestral traits shared by two or more taxa that have not diverged from a common ancestor.

Derived Character States Shared by Clade Members Are Called