Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

plesiomorphic

Adjective

/ˌplɛzɪəˈmɔːrfɪk/

Definition

Referring to the primitive or ancestral characteristics of a group of organisms.

Examples

Many animals exhibit plesiomorphic traits that reveal their evolutionary history.
In studying evolutionary biology, scientists often identify plesiomorphic characteristics to understand relationships among species.

Meaning

Plesiomorphic traits are those that are shared among a group of organisms and are inherited from their common ancestors, rather than unique adaptations that have evolved later.