noun
- major taxonomic divisions within a kingdom, ranking below kingdom and above phylum in biological classification
Usage: biology; taxonomy
Examples
- The animal kingdom is divided into several subkingdoms based on fundamental body plan differences.
- Vertebrates belong to the subkingdom Vertebrata within the animal kingdom.
- Scientists classify organisms into subkingdoms to better understand evolutionary relationships.
- The plant kingdom contains multiple subkingdoms that reflect major evolutionary branches.
- Biologists study the characteristics that distinguish different subkingdoms from one another.
- Each subkingdom represents a significant step in the hierarchical classification system.