Figure 2. Possible scenarios when determining the most mature individual.

In each scenario, a cladistic analysis has recovered hypothetical specimens “Y” (light gray) and “Z” (black) at the terminus of the ontogram. The most mature individual(s) is indicated by an arrowhead. (A) The analysis with an artificial adult is successful; the artificial adult is recovered closest to specimen “Y,” indicating that it is the most mature. (B) The analysis with the artificial adult fails to recover a single most mature specimen; the artificial adult is not closer to specimen “Y” or specimen “Z.” (C) Should the analysis with the artificial adult fail, the specimen with the most accumulated growth changes (synontomorphies) is considered the most mature; in this scenario, the most mature individual is specimen “Y,” with a total of four synontomorphies.