A shared ancestral character is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A shared ancestral character is a character that originated in an ancestor of the taxon, and is thus shared by all members of the taxon and its descendants. It is not unique to a clade or an outgroup, and it may or may not be found in the ancestors of a taxon. Choice B is incorrect because a shared characteristic that is present in all members of a clade, including their ancestors, is called a synapomorphy. Choice C is incorrect because an evolutionary novelty unique to a clade is called an apomorphy. Choice D is incorrect because an outgroup character is a characteristic that is found in the outgroup taxon but not in the members of the ingroup taxon.

A Shared Ancestral Character Is