Evolutionary Terms

noun a member of the family of primates that includes humans, apes, and monkeys

adjective resembling a human being in form

• The anthropoid species includes humans, apes, and monkeys.
• I learned about anthropoid primates in my biology class.
• That dude looks like an anthropoid with his long arms and hairy chest.
• The giant robot in the movie resembled an anthropoid creature.

noun a primate of a family (Hominidae) that includes humans and their fossil ancestors

adjective relating to or characteristic of humans or their ancestors

• The study of hominids is crucial in understanding human evolution.
• Did you know that we share a common ancestor with hominids?
• Check out those cool hominids at the zoo!
• His towering presence in the room made him seem like a hominid among mere mortals.

noun a similarity in structure between parts of different organisms, indicating a common evolutionary origin

• The concept of homology in biology refers to the similarity in structure between different organisms due to shared ancestry.
• Homology basically means that different organisms have similar body parts because they come from the same family tree.
• Homology is like when two species have the same stuff because they're related.
• Homology is like finding out you have the same nose as your great-great-grandparent.

noun the evolution of similar characteristics in species that do not share a common ancestor

• Convergent evolution is the process by which unrelated species develop similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.
• It's crazy how convergent evolution can make completely different animals look so similar.
• Convergent evolution is like nature's way of saying 'great minds think alike' to different species.
• Just like how two people from different backgrounds can end up with similar tastes and interests, convergent evolution shows how species can adapt in similar ways.

noun the ability of a biological system to undergo changes in response to environmental pressures, leading to increased fitness and survival

• Evolvability is a key trait that allows organisms to adapt to changing environments.
• The evolvability of these new species is pretty impressive.
• Dang, that creature's evolvability is off the charts!
• Just like a chameleon, his evolvability in different situations is remarkable.

noun a group of organisms believed to have evolved from a common ancestor, according to the principles of cladistics

• The clade of mammals includes all animals that descended from a common ancestor that was also a mammal.
• I learned in biology class that a clade is like a family tree for animals.
• Dude, did you know that all these cool animals are part of the same clade?
• In the world of music, the clade of rock bands from the 80s continues to influence modern artists.

noun a member of the group of reptiles that includes dinosaurs

adjective relating to or characteristic of dinosaurs

• The study of dinosaurian anatomy has provided valuable insights into prehistoric ecosystems.
• My little brother is obsessed with all things dinosaurian.
• That T-Rex toy is totally dinosaurian!
• Her roar was so powerful, it was almost dinosaurian in nature.

noun the process by which a single species evolves into many different species to fill available niches

• Adaptive radiation is a process in which organisms diversify rapidly into a multitude of new forms to take advantage of different ecological niches.
• During adaptive radiation, species quickly evolve into various forms to adapt to different environments.
• When adaptive radiation occurs, species go crazy evolving to fit into different habitats.
• Adaptive radiation is like a burst of creativity in the natural world, with species rapidly branching out into new directions.