polyphyletic Definition
- 1relating to a group of organisms that does not include the common ancestor of all members of the group
- 2pertaining to a taxonomic group that includes multiple ancestral sources
Using polyphyletic: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "polyphyletic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Birds are polyphyletic because they evolved from different ancestors.
Example
The term 'fish' is polyphyletic because it includes many different groups of aquatic animals.
Example
Polyphyletic groups are problematic for evolutionary biologists because they do not accurately reflect the true relationships between organisms.
polyphyletic Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for polyphyletic
Antonyms for polyphyletic
Summary: polyphyletic in Brief
The term 'polyphyletic' [pol-ee-fahy-let-ik] refers to a group of organisms that does not include the common ancestor of all members of the group. It is used to describe a taxonomic group that includes multiple ancestral sources, and is often contrasted with 'monophyletic.' Examples of polyphyletic groups include birds and fish. The term is formal and is commonly used in evolutionary biology.
