autapomorphy

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noun

A derived trait that is unique to a particular taxon

Scrabble 24

Meanings

nounautapomorphy (plural autapomorphies)

plural autapomorphies

  1. A derived trait that is unique to a particular taxon
    1 more example

    In their article, these authors gave a full description of the specimen and concluded that the species was not only lacking several characteristics typical for the genus Gonocephalus but presented additional characters that would justify the removal of G. mjobergi from Gonocephalus.They abstained from naming a new genus based on autapomorphies, given that this would be of no phylogenetic relevance and limited taxonomic use, and deferred a decision until more material became available for study.

    2023, Wolfgang Denzer, Hinrich Kaiser, “Naming And Gaming: The Illicit Taxonomic Practice Of 'Nomenclatural Harvesting' And How To Avoid It”, in Journal of Zoology, volume 320, number 3, page 164

Origin

  1. Proto-Hellenic*autós
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew
  3. Ancient Greekαὖ (aû)
  4. Ancient Greekτόν (tón)
  5. Ancient Greekαὐτός (autós)
  6. Ancient Greekαὐτο- (auto-)
  7. Englishauto-
  8. Englishaut-
  9. Englishapomorphy
  10. Englishautapomorphy

From aut- + apomorphy.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

autapomorphy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autapomorphy

MLA

“autapomorphy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autapomorphy. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “autapomorphy,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autapomorphy.

Source: autapomorphy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.