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Glite Dictionary
subphylum

subphylum

1 9.9
A group of related animals or plants below a phylum and above a class
  • noun
  • /sʌbˈfaɪləm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : subfilo
  • The animal kingdom is divided into several groups, with humans classified under the subphylum Vertebrata.

Examples

  • Understanding the characteristics of the subphylum Chordata helps in studying the evolution of various species.

  • Subphylum Vertebrata.

    The Raven (2012)

  • This trait places them in the Vertebrata, the same subphylum as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and humans.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Spiders belong to the subphylum Chelicerata, which is distinct from insects.

Synonyms

superclass
vssubphylum
  • Specialized
8.8

A biological group above a class and below a phylum

is the same rank but uses a different term

Compounds

subphylum Urochorda
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of sea animals like sea squirts with a sac-like body and a backbone-like rod when young

subphylum Urochordata
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of sea animals like sea squirts with a bag-like body and a tail in the young stage

subphylum Craniata
  • Specialized
9.8

A group of animals that have a skull, like fish, birds, and mammals

Surface Forms

subphylum singular
subphyla plural

Morphology

subphylum = phylum (transparent) = sub + phylum

The compound is a straightforward prefixation: 'sub-' (under/secondary) + 'phylum' yields a taxonomic rank below a phylum.

Etymology

Subphylum comes from the parts sub- meaning 'under' and phylum meaning 'group' or 'tribe'. So a subphylum is a 'group under' a phylum, a smaller group scientists use to sort living things into more specific groups.