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phyletic

American  
[fahy-let-ik] / faɪˈlɛt ɪk /

adjective

Biology.
  1. of, relating to, or based on the evolutionary history of a group of organisms; phylogenetic.


phyletic British  
/ ˌfaɪləʊdʒɪˈnɛtɪk, faɪˈlɛtɪk /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the evolution of a species or group of organisms

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of phyletic

1880–85; Greek phȳletikós pertaining to a tribesman, equivalent to phȳlét ( ēs ) tribesman (derivative of phȳ́lē phyle ) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Researchers have found striking examples of gift-giving across the phyletic landscape, in insects, spiders, mollusks, birds and mammals.

From New York Times • Dec. 23, 2013

Venoms and repellents are hardly rare in nature: Many insects, frogs, snakes, jellyfish and other phyletic characters use them with abandon.

From New York Times • Jan. 30, 2012

Haeckel says the sense of duty is a "long series of phyletic modifications of the phronema of the cortex."

From Christianity and Progress by Fosdick, Harry Emerson

In the mountains of México five species of hylids that seem to compose a phyletic unit are herein referred to as the Hyla bistincta group.

From A Review of the Frogs of the Hyla bistincta Group by Duellman, William E.

If this assumption is correct, Phyllomedusa and Agalychnis represent different phyletic lines; each exhibits divergent modes of adaptation for arboreal habits, whereas Pachymedusa probably remains relatively little changed from the basic phyllomedusine stock.

From The Genera of Phyllomedusine Frogs (Anura Hylidae) by Duellman, William E.

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