Subvolgorde

Subvolgorde is a taxonomic rank used in biological classification, primarily in zoology. It denotes a level below the order (ordo) and above the infraorder or parvorder, depending on the classification system. A suborder groups together one or more families that share notable evolutionary characteristics, and it reflects hypotheses about relationships among those groups.

The exact definition of what constitutes a suborder differs among organisms and classification schemes. In some groups it is an essential, widely used rank; in others the hierarchy relies on infraorders or superfamilies instead, and the term may be seldom used. The rank is guided by phylogenetic analyses and is subject to revision as new data emerge.

Common examples include the suborder Adephaga and Polyphaga within the beetles (Coleoptera), and the suborder Apocrita within the wasps, bees, and ants (Hymenoptera). These suborders help organize families that share morphological traits and evolutionary history, while still allowing for finer subdivisions such as superfamilies and families.

The term subvolgorde derives from Latin sub- "under" and ordo "order". In Dutch biology, subvolgorde is used similarly to its English counterpart suborder, though practices vary by taxonomic group. The rank remains one of several tools scientists use to reflect relationships in a dynamic, phylogeny-based classification.