cladistics

cla·dis·tics  (kl-dstks)

n. (used with a sing. verb)

A system of classification based on the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of groups of organisms.

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cla·distic, cla·disti·cal adj.

cla·disti·cal·ly adv.

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cladistics [kləˈdɪstɪks]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) (functioning as singular) Biology a method of grouping animals that makes use of lines of descent rather than structural similarities

[New Latin, from Greek klādos branch, shoot]

cladism  [ˈklædɪzəm] n

cladist  [ˈklædɪst] n

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cladistics  (kl-dstks)

A system of classification based on the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of groups of organisms, rather than purely on shared features. Many modern taxonomists prefer cladistics to the traditional hierarchies of Linnean classification systems. Compare Linnean.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

cladistics - a system of biological taxonomy based on the quantitative analysis of comparative data and used to reconstruct cladograms summarizing the (assumed) phylogenetic relations and evolutionary history of groups of organisms cladistic analysis taxonomy - (biology) study of the general principles of scientific classification