Meanings
plural synapomorphies
- A derived trait that is shared by two or more taxa of shared ancestry.
A “synapomorphy” for a group then amounts to a state change in a character along the corresponding branch; some synapomorphies may be ambiguous when optimization is ambiguous and multiple MPRs exist.
2022, Pablo A. Goloboff, From Observations to Optimal Phylogenetic Trees: Phylogenetic Analysis of Morphological Data, Vol. 11 more example
Another supposed synapomorphy of Rhamporhynchidae + Pterodactyloidea presented by Unwin (1995) is the subequal length of metacarpals I–III. In all non-pterodactyloid specimens where this region is known metacarpals I–III are about the same length. Therefore this feature cannot be used as a synapomorphy of Rhamporhynchidae + Pterodactyloidea.
2003, Eric Buffetaut, Jean-Michel Mazin, Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs, page 117
Synonyms & antonyms
antonym(s) of “derived trait that is shared”
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
- Proto-Indo-European*ḱómder.?
- Proto-Indo-European*sem-der.?
- Proto-Hellenic*ksún
- Ancient Greekσύν (sún)
- Ancient Greekσῠν- (sŭn-)
- Englishsyn-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂ep
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂epó
- Proto-Hellenic*apó
- Ancient Greekᾰ̓πό (ăpó)
- Ancient Greekᾰ̓πο- (ăpo-)
- Englishapo-
- Ancient Greekμορφή (morphḗ)
- Englishapomorphy
- Englishsynapomorphy
Cite this entry
synapomorphy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/synapomorphy
“synapomorphy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/synapomorphy. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “synapomorphy,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/synapomorphy.
Source: synapomorphy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.