different between subspecies vs subspecific

English

Etymology

sub- +? species.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /?s?bspi??i?z/, /-??z/, /-si?z/
• Hyphenation: sub?spe?cies

Noun

subspecies (plural subspecies)

1. (taxonomy) A rank in the classification of organisms, below species.
2. (taxonomy) A taxon at that rank, often indicated with trinomial nomenclature (such as Felis silvestris silvestris in zoology and Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii in botany).
3. A subdivision of a species in other scientific disciplines.

Synonyms

• (abbreviations): ssp., subsp.

Derived terms

Related terms

• infraspecific
• infraspecific epithet
• subspecific
• subspecific epithet
• subspecific name

Translations

Further reading

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /sub?spe.ki.e?s/, [s??p?s?p?kie?s?]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /sup?spe.t??i.es/, [sup?sp??t??i?s]

Noun

subspeci?s f (genitive subspeci??); fifth declension

1. subspecies

Declension

Fifth-declension noun.

Further reading

• subspecies on the Latin Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^la

English

Etymology

sub- +? specific

Adjective

subspecific (not comparable)

1. (taxonomy) pertaining to a subspecies. (See Usage notes.)
2. (taxonomy) infraspecific. (See Usage notes.)

Usage notes

Formal usage (that is, as a term of formal nomenclature referring to the taxonomic rank of subspecies) is only in zoology and bacteriology, not in botany, although informal usage is not restricted. When the meaning of infraspecific is meant (that is, pertaining to any taxon at a rank lower than species), it is preferable to say infraspecific (because the main word sense of subspecific refers more particularly to subspecies per se), although the broad usage is venial.

See also

• subspecific epithet
• subspecific name