Define synapomorphy
A derived character shared by 2+ taxa that was present in their most common recent ancestor
What is cladistics
Categorizes into groups called CLADES
Define plesiomorphy
A primitive character shared by 2+ taxa
Define mono phyletic
An ancestor organism and all it’s descendents
-defined by one synapomorphy
Define polyphyletic
2+ taxa but NOT the common ancestor
-Convergent evolution
Define paraphyletic
An ancestor group and some of its descendents
I.e: reptiles without birds