subspecies
subspecies
Definition
sub·spe·cies (sub′spē′s̸hēz)
noun
any natural subdivision of a species that exhibits small, but persistent, morphological variations from other subdivisions of the same species living in different geographical regions or times: the subspecies name is usually the third term (not capitalized) in a trinomial (Ex.: the scientific name for Neanderthal man is Homo sapiens neanderthalensis)
sub′·spe·cif′ic (-spə sif′ik) adjective
subspecies
Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- tiger: The future survival of this subspecies of tiger looks very bleak, indeed many conservationists believe it's fate is already sealed.
- elephant: The other two subspecies of the Asian elephant are E. m. sumatranus on Sumatra and E. m. maximus on Sri Lanka.
- chimpanzee: Moreover, Whiten and colleagues found no evidence that habits vary more between, than within, the three existing chimpanzee subspecies of chimpanzee.
- bird: Its only saving grace was apparently that there were three subspecies of this bird.
Converse of object
- consider: The nightjar, now considered a subspecies of Rufous Nightjar, is rarely seen outside of the breeding season.
- find: Good views enabled comparison of the 2 of the 3 subspecies found in Nepal.
- include: The Life of Mountain Gorillas: There are two main species of gorilla, which include five subspecies.
- see: Also here we saw the Cuban subspecies of Northern Flicker, and West Indian Woodpecker.
- know: This subspecies known as Scopoli's Shearwater, may well be split in the future.
Adjective modifier
- endemic: Further down we looked for the endemic subspecies of Yellow Warbler.
- distinctive: Perhaps the most notable land bird is St Kilda's own distinctive subspecies of wren, 2 - 3g heavier than mainland birds.
- distinct: There are four distinct subspecies, found throughout the eastern United States.
- different: In most cases the raw data do not distinguish between records for different subspecies.
- local: Kestrel: The local subspecies very common in most parts of Tenerife.
- other: Here the subspecies regina which differs from the other subspecies in having a golden crown.
Modifies a noun
- paratuberculosis: Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis ( MAP ) is a bug which is a specific cause of chronic inflammation of the intestine in many animals.
- nana: Subspecies nana is found in the Cairngorms NNR, and on at least five SSSIs in northwest Scotland.
- level: The online distribution maps are available at class, family, genus, species and subspecies level.
Noun used with modifier
- avium: Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis ( MAP ) is a bug which is a specific cause of chronic inflammation of the intestine in many animals.
- mycobacterium: Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis ( MAP ) is a bug which is a specific cause of chronic inflammation of the intestine in many animals.
Browse dictionary entries near subspecies
- subspace
- subsonic
- subsolar
- subsoil
- subsistence
- subsist
- subsidy
- subsidize
- subsidiary
- subside
