subtribes

Subtribe is a rank used in biological classification and, less formally, in anthropology, to group related organisms or social groups within a larger category. In biological systematics, a subtribe sits below a tribe and above a genus, providing a way to organize genera that share common features or evolutionary history.

In zoological nomenclature, subtribes are one of several optional intermediary ranks used within large tribes; their exact placement and naming depend on the author and the classification system, rather than on a universal rule. In botanical nomenclature, subtribes similarly occupy a position between tribe and genus in some families and classifications, but the rank is not universally used across all plant groups.

Beyond biology, the term subtribe has appeared in anthropology and ethnography to refer to subdivisions within a larger tribal group. The usage and meanings of subtribe in this context are diverse and contested, reflecting social, historical, and political dimensions of classification rather than purely biological criteria.

Because taxonomic and ethnographic practices evolve with new data and perspectives, subtribes are sometimes dissolved, merged, or renamed as knowledge advances. In modern taxonomy, many researchers emphasize monophyletic groupings defined by phylogenetic relationships, and ranks like subtribe may be used selectively or avoided altogether in favor of named clades or more precise hierarchies. See also: taxonomy, classification, tribe, clade, ethnography.