subspecies

WordNet-Online
Free dictionary and thesaurus of English. Definitions, synonyms, antonyms and more...
Hint: double-click any word to get it searched!

Definitions from WordNet

Noun subspecies has 1 sense

subspecies, race - (biology) a taxonomic group that is a division of a species; usually arises as a consequence of geographical isolation within a species
--₁ is a kind of taxonomic group, taxonomic category, taxon

Definitions from the Web

Term: subspecies

Part of Speech: Noun

Sense: A taxonomic category that ranks below species; a race or variety of a species.

Usage: In biology, subspecies refer to distinct populations within a species that have noticeable differences but are still capable of interbreeding.

Example Sentence:

1. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) has several subspecies, including the Arctic fox and the swift fox.

2. The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) has two recognized subspecies: the African forest elephant and the African savanna elephant.

3. The Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) is often classified into various subspecies based on their geographic distribution and physical traits.