What are the opposite words for plesiomorphy?

Plesiomorphy is a term used in evolutionary biology to describe a trait or characteristic that is shared among a group of organisms because of their common ancestor. Antonyms for plesiomorphy would be derived traits or apomorphies, which are characteristics that have evolved in a particular lineage and are not present in their ancestors. These traits are specific to a certain group of organisms and distinguish them from other related groups. For example, having wings is an apomorphy for birds, while possessing hair is an apomorphy for mammals. The identification of plesiomorphic and apomorphic traits is crucial in understanding the evolution of different lineages of organisms.

Other antonyms