Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
suborder Serpentes

suborder Serpentes

9.8
A group of reptiles that includes all snakes with long, legless bodies
  • noun
  • /ˈsʌbˌɔrdər ˈsɜrˌpɛntiːz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : suborden Serpentes
  • The suborder Serpentes includes more than 3,000 different species of snakes.

Examples

  • The suborder Serpentes includes various species of snakes.

  • Scientists have discovered new fossil evidence within the suborder Serpentes.

  • All true snakes are classified under the suborder Serpentes in biological taxonomy.

  • Many reptiles belong to the suborder Serpentes.

  • All true snakes are classified under the suborder Serpentes in biological taxonomy.

  • The suborder Serpentes includes more than 3,000 different species of snakes.

  • Scientists have discovered new fossil evidence within the suborder Serpentes.

Synonyms

Serpentes
vssuborder Serpentes
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of reptiles made up of all snakes

is the formal taxonomic label for the same group
Ophidia
vssuborder Serpentes
  • Archaic
9.9

A group of animals that includes all snakes

is the modern taxonomic name used in current classifications
suborder Ophidia
vssuborder Serpentes
  • Archaic
9.9

An old scientific group used to classify snakes

is the present scientific group not tied to that older placement

Surface Forms

suborder Serpentes singular
suborders Serpentes plural

Morphology

suborder + Serpentes

The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'suborder' denotes a taxonomic rank and 'Serpentes' names the group of snakes, so together they clearly mean the suborder called Serpentes (the snakes). This naming pattern is a regular, cross-linguistic way to label taxa, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

Suborder Serpentes gets its name from Latin: Serpentes comes from the word 'serpens', meaning 'a snake' or 'to crawl', and suborder means a smaller 'group' inside a larger one. So the name literally points to the group of animals that are snakes, which is why it means 'the group of all snakes'.