subsp.
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Biology
| Stands for | Subspecies |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
subsp. stands for Subspecies, a biology abbreviation.
Taxonomic rank below species, used for populations with distinct traits, often in different regions, that can still interbreed. In scientific names it appears between the species and subspecies epithets, as in Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.
Example: Napa cabbage is botanically Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis, a close relative of the turnip.
Usage notes
Zoologists usually omit the abbreviation and write a three-part name such as Panthera tigris altaica, while bacteriology and botany require subsp. Botanists prefer subsp. over ssp. Plant names may also use "var." for variety, a rank below subspecies.
Related abbreviations
More biology abbreviations
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