Subphylum Explained

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. Some plant taxonomists have also used the rank of subphylum, for instance monocotyledons as a subphylum of phylum Angiospermae and vertebrates as a subphylum of phylum Chordata.

Taxonomic rank

Subphylum is:

1. 1. subordinate to the phylum superordinate to the infraphylum.

Where convenient, subphyla in turn can 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, the Gnathostomata and the Agnatha.

Bibliography

• Book: Hutchinson, John. John Hutchinson (botanist). The families of flowering plants, arranged according to a new system based on their probable phylogeny. 2 vols. 1973. 3rd. Oxford University Press.