Superorder

Definition

A taxonomic rank immediately above order in the Linnaean hierarchy, used to group related orders that share more recent common ancestry with each other than with orders placed in other superorders. Superorders are not formally governed by nomenclature codes and are employed inconsistently across taxa; they are most commonly used in vertebrate and some arthropod classifications to reduce the number of classes or to reflect phylogenetic relationships that do not warrant formal class status.

Etymology

From Latin super- (above, over) + ordo (order, rank)

Example

In some classifications of insects, the superorder Holometabola (or Endopterygota) unites all orders with complete metamorphosis—Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, and others—distinguishing them from the superorder Paraneoptera and the series of hemimetabolous superorders.

Related Terms

• order
• suborder
• class
• infraorder
• taxonomic rank
• Linnaean taxonomy

Usage Notes

Superorder is an optional, non-mandatory rank; its use varies by taxonomic tradition. In entomology, superorders such as Holometabola and Paraneoptera are phylogenetically informative but not formally regulated. The rank should not be confused with cohort or magnorder, which occupy similar hierarchical positions in alternative systems. When present, superorder sits between class and order, though some classifications omit it entirely or use intermediate ranks like subclass or infraclass instead.