paraphyletic

1. Relating to a taxonomic group that includes some but not all of the descendants of a common ancestor. In the traditional taxonomy of vertebrates, where fish are a separate class from the classes of terrestrial vertebrates, the class of fish is paraphyletic, since the terrestrial vertebrates are descended from a type of fish.

2. Compare monophyletic polyphyletic

Example Sentences

Arbitrarily excluding members creates what’s known as a ‘paraphyletic’ group, the equivalent of deciding not to invite a troublesome relative to your wedding – it doesn’t remove them from a family tree.

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Puffinus was found to be paraphyletic by Heidrich et al.

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Thus, the most likely explanation for the paraphyletic pattern seen in domestic individuals is a long history of genetic exchange between wild and domestic pigs.

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Within striped windows, and/or H. timareta are paraphyletic but the taxa do not group by colour pattern.

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Within striped windows, and/or H. timareta are paraphyletic but the taxa do not group by colour pattern.

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