phylogeny of animals

• Systematics


  The study of biological diversity in an evolutionary context. It includes speciation, taxonomy, and phylogeny.
• Taxonomy


  The branch of systematics concerned with naming and classification.
• Phylogeny


  The study of the pattern of divergence history.
• Cladistics


  Assembling a phylogeny, taxa are associated on the basis of shared evolutionary innovations.
• Apomorphy


  A derived character state
• Synapomorphy


  A shared derived character state
• Autapomorphy


  A derived character state unique to one study group member
• Symplesiomorphy


  A shared primitive character state