A phylogenetic tree or evolutionary tree is a branching diagram or "tree" showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological species or other entities—their phylogeny based upon similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics. All life on Earth is part of a single phylogenetic tree, indicating common ancestry.
Taxonomists identify important similarities and differences between organisms, which result from the way in which an organism has evolved. The history of an organism's evolution is called phylogeny. Closely related organisms are placed in the same groups.