Superorder (Noun)
Meaning
(biology) a taxonomic group ranking above an order and below a class or subclass.
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The insect superorder Holometabola contains the most advanced insects, with a distinct larval stage that differs significantly from the adult.
- Biologists recognize the superorder Laurasiatheria as a distinct grouping within the class Mammalia, which includes carnivores and various other placental mammals.
- Entomologists group butterflies and moths together in the superorder Lepidoptera, due to their similar body structure and metamorphic development.
- Scientists place the mammalian superorder Afrotheria alongside Laurasiatheria, recognizing distinct lineages that diverged during the early Cenozoic era.
- Within the superorder Deuterostomia, a large and diverse group of marine animals can be found, including sea stars, sea urchins, and other echinoderms.