superfamily

A superfamily is a rank in biological classification used to group together related families. In the hierarchical system, a superfamily sits between the order and family levels, though its exact scope and boundaries vary among different groups and taxonomic treatments.

The definition and circumscription of a superfamily are based on evolutionary relationships. Taxonomists use morphological data and increasingly molecular genetic information to delineate which families belong to a given superfamily. Because taxonomic practices differ across organisms and over time, the rank is not universally standardized, and some classifications employ it more formally than others.

Examples illustrate its use across diverse groups. In primates, the superfamily Hominoidea includes the families Hominidae (great apes and humans) and Hylobatidae (gibbons). In rodents, the superfamily Muroidea comprises several families such as Muridae and Cricetidae. In Lepidoptera, the superfamily Papilionoidea groups most of the butterflies into a large assemblage. These examples show how a superfamily serves as a practical level of organization when substantial diversity exists within an order.

Notes and scope: the rank is widely recognized in zoology and is used variably in botany and paleontology. With advances in molecular phylogenetics, some relationships once placed within a superfamily are revised, and the rank may be elevated, merged, or abandoned in particular classifications. See also taxonomy, clades, and ranks in biological classification.