alaniini

Alaniini is a taxonomic tribe name used in zoological classification. In biology, a tribe is a rank that sits between subfamily and genus and is used to group closely related genera. The exact circumscription of Alaniini—meaning which genera are included—varies by taxonomic group and by author, so there is no single universally accepted list of member genera.

The name Alaniini is typically formed from a base genus name or another term chosen by the revising author, and its etymology can differ depending on the group in which it is used. Because taxonomic classifications are periodically revised in light of new data, the recognition of Alaniini and its included genera may change over time. Some classifications may recognize the tribe, while others may merge its members into different tribes or exclude them altogether.

Usage of the name is not uniform across all animal groups. In some lineages, Alaniini has been proposed or used in past taxonomic treatments, but subsequent revisions may alter or discard the rank within those groups. Therefore, to determine the current composition and status of Alaniini, researchers consult group-specific taxonomic revisions, catalogs, and databases such as formal taxonomic checklists and phylogenetic studies.

Etymology and applicability aside, Alaniini should not be confused with similarly named entities from other domains, such as historical peoples or geographic terms. For precise information about a particular usage of Alaniini, it is best to refer to the taxon’s current official sources within the respective group.

See also: Taxonomy, Zoological nomenclature, Tribe (biology), Alani (disambiguation).