Derived Character

Real World Example

Imagine you're trying to update your wardrobe to keep up with the latest fashion trends that your older siblings never followed. This is similar to how a species might develop a new trait that its ancestors did not possess, like a unique feather color or a specialized beak shape. Just as your new clothes set you apart from your siblings by incorporating modern styles they never wore, a derived character sets a species apart by introducing features that were not present in its ancestral lineage.