subspecies

(subspē′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)

Origin: ModL: see sub- + species

Related Forms:

See subspecies in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. subspecies
A taxonomic subdivision of a species consisting of an interbreeding, usually geographically isolated population of organisms.

Related Forms:

  • subˌspe·cifˈic (-spĭ-sĭfˈĭk) adjective

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