Subfamily (Noun)
Meaning
(biology) a taxonomic category below a family.
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The class Insecta is divided into 27 orders, with many orders being further subdivided into subfamilies and infraorders.
- Some scientists place the two living species in a distinct subfamily called Hydriphaginae, within the family Elmidae.
- Members of the subfamily Corythophaninae, including Corythophanes, Basiliscus, and Laemanctus, have their throat spines lined up along their chins.
- Recent classifications include three subfamilies of trees, commonly referred to as figs: more than 1,000 species, largely confined to the tropics and subtropics of Asia, Australia, Africa, the Americas, and islands in both oceans.
- Birds are broadly categorized into families, some of which have a more nuanced grouping within subfamilies or even smaller classifications, to the tribe, subtribe, or section.