Subphylum

In zoological nomenclature, a subphylum is a taxonomic rank below the rank of phylum.

The taxonomic rank of 'subdivision' in fungi and plant taxonomy is equivalent to 'subphylum' in zoological taxonomy.

Taxonomic rank

Subphylum is:

subordinate to the phylum
superordinate to the infraphylum.

Where convenient, subphyla in turn may be divided into infraphyla; in turn such an infraphylum also would be superordinate to any classes or superclasses in the hierarchy.

Examples

Not all fauna phyla are divided into subphyla. Those that are include:

Arthropoda: divided into subphyla Trilobitomorpha, Chelicerata, Myriapoda, Hexapoda and Crustacea,
Brachiopoda: divided into subphyla Linguliformea, Craniformea and Rhynchonelliformea,
Chordata: divided into Tunicata, Cephalochordata, and its largest subphylum Vertebrata.

Examples of infraphyla include the Mycetozoa and the Gnathostomata.

Taxonomic ranks
				Magnorder
Domain/Superkingdom	Superphylum/Superdivision	Superclass		Superorder	Superfamily	Supertribe		Superspecies
Kingdom	Phylum/Division	Class	Legion	Order	Family	Tribe	Genus	Species
Subkingdom	Subphylum	Subclass	Cohort	Suborder	Subfamily	Subtribe	Subgenus	Subspecies
Infrakingdom/Branch	Infraphylum	Infraclass		Infraorder			Section	Infraspecies
	Microphylum	Parvclass		Parvorder			Series	Variety
								Form

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