a derived character that is shared by all of the members of a clade, but is not possessed by the immediate ancestors of the clade

a trait that appears for the first time at a given position in the cladogram," he surgically removed any reference to what Luo had been talking about in this specific instance

A derived or specialized character. (also derived trait) more

(Paleoanthropology) A later state of a character relative to its ancestral state.

same as derived trait

An apomorphy is a new genetic characteristic common to a clade. Feathers are an apomorphy for birds.

(adj. apomorphic or apomorphous) A relatively derived or advanced or unique character state (cf. autapomorphy, synapomorphy, plesiomorphy, symplesiomorphy).

A derived character state; a new feature that arose during the course of evolution.

a character state which is unique to a single, terminal taxon. Example: among primates, complex grammar is an apomorphy of human beings. It is quite diagnostic of humans, but useless in determining phylogenetic relationships because it is not a shared, derived characteristic, or synapomorphy, of any larger group.