Basal

From Palaeos

PHYLOGENETICS

Cladistics | Gene transfer | Molecular phylogeny | Phylogenetic taxonomy | Phylogenetic tree | Taxon sampling

Basal is used to describe members or a sub-group of a clade that appeared or diverged earlier than other sub-groups and hence lie near the root of a clade. Basal taxa therefore lack specialisations that develop later in the group.

The opposite of basal is derived.

Primitive is a synonym, but the use of "basal" is often preferred because "primitive" might imply inferiority.

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MAK061112