subfamily

{{short description|Intermediate taxonomic rank below family}}

{{For|the protein classification|Protein subfamily}}

{{Biological classification}}

In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: {{lang|la|subfamilia}}, plural {{lang|la|subfamiliae}}) is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zoological subfamily names with "-inae".

Detarioideae is an example of a botanical subfamily. Detarioideae is a subdivision of the family Fabaceae (legumes), containing 84 genera.{{Cite journal |last1=de la Estrella |first1=M. |last2=Forest |first2=F. |last3=Klitgard |first3=B. |last4=Lewis |first4=G. P. |last5=Mackinder |first5=B. A. |last6=de Queiroz |first6=L. P. |last7=Wieringa |first7=J. J. |last8=Bruneau |first8=A. |date=2 May 2018 |title=A new phylogeny-based tribal classification of subfamily Detarioideae, an early branching clade of florally diverse tropical arborescent legumes |url=https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fs41598-018-24687-3 |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=8 |issue=6884|page=6884 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-24687-3 |pmid=29720687 |bibcode=2018NatSR...8.6884D |s2cid=256962983 |pmc=5932001 }}

Stevardiinae is an example of a zoological subfamily. Stevardiinae is a large subdivision of the family Characidae, a diverse clade of freshwater fish.{{Cite journal |last1=Thomaz |first1=Andréa T. |last2=Arcila |first2=Dahiana |last3=Ortí |first3=Guillermo |last4=Malabarba |first4=Luiz R. |date=2015-07-21 |title=Molecular phylogeny of the subfamily Stevardiinae Gill, 1858 (Characiformes: Characidae): classification and the evolution of reproductive traits |journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=146 |doi=10.1186/s12862-015-0403-4 |issn=1471-2148 |pmc=4509481 |pmid=26195030 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2015BMCEE..15..146T }}