Further Studies Based on the Uniquely Derived Character Concept

Abstract

A number of methods of selection of characters based on the uniquely derived character concept (LeQuesne, 1969) have been applied to published data on taxa of Orthopteroid insects and also to random data obtained by dealing cards. The latter has been used to verify the essential soundness of the statistical methods. The data on Orthopteroid insects show some uncertainty in the most likely phylogeny among the group, although verifying the existence of some already well-accepted groupings. It is shown that at least 54 out of 80 characters tested are not uniquely derived.