uterinae

Uterinae is a subfamily-name used in zoological taxonomy. In standard nomenclature, the suffix -inae denotes a subfamily, and such names are typically derived from a designated type genus. For Uterinae, the implied or historical type genus would be Uterina or a closely related genus, though the exact circumscription has varied over time and across groups.

Usage and status have been inconsistent. In many modern classifications, Uterinae is not listed as an accepted subfamily. It has appeared in older or less-stable classifications, where it might be treated as valid, construed as a synonym of another subfamily, or regarded as a nomen nudum (a name lacking a formal description). Because there is no universally agreed-upon type genus or diagnostic characters, the rank and content of Uterinae are not consistently defined.

Because of its unsettled status, Uterinae generally cannot be described in terms of morphology, ecology, or distribution without reference to a specific circumscription in a particular taxonomic work. When the name is encountered, it is advisable to consult the original description and subsequent taxonomic revisions to determine whether it is currently considered valid, synonymous, or abandoned in the group in question.

In practice, contemporary taxonomic databases such as the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) or ITIS may not list Uterinae as an accepted subfamily, reflecting its limited and sometimes historical usage. As with many rank-level names tied to specific genera, the acceptance of Uterinae depends on the taxonomic framework being cited. See also: zoological nomenclature, subfamily, taxonomic synonymy.