Underfamilies

Underfamilies represent a taxonomic rank used in biological classification. This rank is positioned between family and subfamily, serving as a way to group related subfamilies within a larger family. When a family is very diverse and contains numerous distinct groups that are themselves sufficiently differentiated, an underfamily may be established to organize these subdivisions. This hierarchical structure helps scientists to more precisely categorize and understand the relationships between different species and groups of organisms.

The use of the underfamily rank is not mandatory and is often employed when the degree of divergence between subfamilies within a family warrants further subdivision. For example, in certain large and complex animal families, multiple underfamilies might exist, each encompassing several subfamilies that share specific common characteristics and evolutionary history. The decision to establish an underfamily is typically made by taxonomists based on morphological, genetic, or other biological evidence. The naming convention for underfamilies generally follows established rules for scientific nomenclature, often ending in "-inae".