clade Definition
a group of organisms believed to have evolved from a common ancestor, according to the principles of cladistics.
Using clade: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "clade" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The clade of birds includes all species descended from a common ancestor.
Example
The classification of mammals into different clades is based on their genetic and morphological characteristics.
Example
The study of clades helps in understanding the evolutionary relationships between different species.
clade Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for clade
- monophyletic group
- cladistic group
- cladogram
Phrases with clade
Example
The sister clade of mammals is the reptiles.
basal clade
a clade that diverged early in the history of a group and hence is less closely related to the other members of the group
Example
The basal clade of primates includes lemurs and lorises.
Example
The crown clade of birds includes all living bird species.
Summary: clade in Brief
'Clade' [kleɪd] refers to a group of organisms that share a common ancestor, according to the principles of cladistics. It is used to understand the evolutionary relationships between different species, such as the clade of birds or mammals. 'Clade' has related phrases like 'sister clade,' 'basal clade,' and 'crown clade,' which describe different aspects of the evolutionary tree.