(systematics) An approach to biological systematics in which organisms are grouped based upon synapomorphies (shared derived characteristics) only, and not upon symplesiomorphies (shared ancestral characteristics).
“Contrary to some critics of parsimony methods, cladists neither deny the possibility that true ancestors are being sampled nor reject the reality of anagenesis.”
“Cladists attempt to create monophyletic groupings, ones that include ancestral taxa and all of the descendants.”
“Continual improvement of phylogenetic hypotheses and associated improvements in nomenclature to reflect that increased knowledge is advocated by Practicing Cladists.”