Pronunciation: KLADE

Etymology: Clade is derived from the Greek klados (κλάδος), which means branch. The reference is to all taxa that occupy the same branch of a cladogram.

A clade is a tree branch. The assumption is that the taxa in a clade are united by synapomorphic characters, and, therefore, it represents evolutionary relationships.

©2003 by S. M. Gon III

By Jack R. Holt. Last revised: 01/02/2009