Figure 5

Phenotypic neighbors' network. Constructed using the 76 non-redundant MCs (white circles) summarized in Additional file AF3D and 75 intermediates (blue and green dots), as nodes. Each MC is detailed in brackets and accompanied by the names of the lineages that display or share such a phenotypic combination. MCs attach to other MCs on the basis of their phenotypic proximity in single steps. Those sharing 7 of the 8 MC features are connected by a red link. This assumption derives in seven MCs with no links and seven components of phenotypic neighbors, distanced by a single step (in boxes). Components were joined by assuming intermediate phenotypic combinations representing the number of steps needed to relate MCs of distinct components separated by two or three changes. In blue, we join MCs in one component that share 6 of the 8 features with the remaining components. Similarly, in green, we relate MCs sharing 5 of the 8 features. For simplicity's sake, links among MCs of the same initial connected component are not traced as these already have one-step neighbors (for more details, see Additional file AF3E).