Subgenus

In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic grade intermediate between genus and species.

The subgeneric name is generally shown in brackets, placed between the genus and species name. It can even be the same as the generic name. e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea (Cypraea) tigris Linné belongs to the subgenus Cypraea of the genus Cypraea.

Unlike the generic and specific names, it is not mandatory, when describing a species, to include the subgeneric name.