noun
- a taxonomic category that ranks below an order and above a family in biological classification
Usage: biology; taxonomy
Examples
- The suborder Serpentes includes all snakes.
- Primates are divided into two suborders: prosimians and anthropoids.
- The scientist studied the evolutionary relationships within the suborder.
- Each suborder contains multiple families of related species.
- The suborder Mysticeti includes all baleen whales.
- Taxonomists use suborders to organize species into manageable groups.