Final answer:
Derived traits in a cladogram are specific to the groups being studied and indicate separate evolutionary paths.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a cladogram, when derived traits appear, it means that those traits are specific to the groups being studied and are not found in the common ancestor. Derived traits help to distinguish between different groups or clades within a phylogenetic tree. These traits have evolved independently in different groups, indicating their separate evolutionary paths.