subspecies

[ suhb-spee-sheez, suhb-spee- ]

noun

, plural sub·spe·cies.

1. a subdivision of a species, specie, species, especially a geographical or ecological subdivision.

subspecies

/ ˈsʌbˌspiːʃiːz; ˌsʌbspɪˈsɪfɪk /

noun

1. biology a taxonomic group that is a subdivision of a species: usually occurs because of isolation within a species ssp

subspecies

/ sŭb′spē′shēz,-sēz /

1. A subdivision of a species of organisms, usually based on geographic distribution. The subspecies name is written in lowercase italics following the species name. For example, Gorilla gorilla gorilla is the western lowland gorilla, and Gorilla gorilla graueri is the eastern lowland gorilla.

Derived Forms

• ˌsubspeˈcifically, adverb
• subspecific, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of subspecies¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; sub- + species

Example Sentences

In Brazil, 80% of the cows are Zebus, a subspecies originating in India with a distinctive hump and dewlap, or folds of draping neck skin.

From Seattle Times

Out of the 16,724 known species and subspecies of ants worldwide, only a few exhibit blue coloration or iridescence.

From Science Daily

Wild reindeer numbers have declined dramatically, with some subspecies listed as endangered, mostly due to habitat loss.

From Science Daily

Populations of the northern spotted owl, a subspecies native to the Pacific Northwest, have declined by as much as 80 percent over the past two decades.

From New York Times

Barred owls have also emerged as a threat to the California spotted owl, a closely related subspecies in the Sierra Nevada and the mountains of coastal and Southern California.

From New York Times