subphylum
Between phylum, class
A subphylum is a taxonomic rank in biological classification, falling between phylum and class.
It groups organisms that share fundamental body plans within a larger phylum: Vertebrata is a subphylum of Chordata, encompassing all animals with backbones.
The term appears almost exclusively in scientific contexts.
Classificatory group of organisms
- superclassCategory above class
- subdivisionPortion of something larger
- LinnaeanOf systematic species naming
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
tier · level · category · classification · systematics · nomenclature · binomial · rank
Evolutionary relationships among organisms
- common ancestorOrigin point of descendants
- cladisticsClassification by common descent
- divergenceSeparation from common origin
- speciationFormation of distinct species
homology · clade · lineage · descent · evolutionary tree · ancestral · derived · morphology
Organism's fundamental structural arrangement
- segmentationDivision into sections
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- bilateralInvolving two parties
- radialEmanating from center
metazoa · coelom · notochord · exoskeleton · appendages · metamorphosis
Animals with dorsal nerve cords
- arthropodsJointed-limb invertebrates
- echinodermsSpiny-skinned marine invertebrates
- invertebratesAnimals without vertebral columns
- vertebratesAnimals with internal skeletons
crustaceans · insects · arachnids · mollusks · annelids · hagfish · lampreys · trilobites
taxon
Classificatory group of organisms
- superclassCategory above class
- subdivisionPortion of something larger
- LinnaeanOf systematic species naming
hierarchy · tier · level · category · classification · systematics · nomenclature · binomial · rank · domain
phylogeny
Evolutionary relationships among organisms
- common ancestorOrigin point of descendants
- cladisticsClassification by common descent
- divergenceSeparation from common origin
speciation · homology · clade · lineage · descent · evolutionary tree · ancestral · derived · morphology · fossils
body plan
Organism's fundamental structural arrangement
- segmentationDivision into sections
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- bilateralInvolving two parties
radial · metazoa · coelom · notochord · exoskeleton · appendages · metamorphosis
chordates
Animals with dorsal nerve cords
- arthropodsJointed-limb invertebrates
- echinodermsSpiny-skinned marine invertebrates
- invertebratesAnimals without vertebral columns
vertebrates · crustaceans · insects · arachnids · mollusks · annelids · hagfish · lampreys · trilobites · millipedes
Crustacea
Exoskeleton-bearing aquatic arthropods