protomorph

/prəˈtɒmɔːrf/

Definitions

1. noun

A hypothetical ancestor or an early form of an organism, especially one thought to be the common ancestor of a group of organisms.

“The discovery of the protomorph of the species has led to a deeper understanding of its evolution.”

Synonyms

  • ancestral form
  • common ancestor

Antonyms

  • descendant
  • mutant