The term super-species may not be much admired, but it will suffice for the moment in contrast against that of sub-species.
Result of Your Query
superspeciessuper espèce (fr.); Superspezies (ger.)
-
A group including two or more closely related species or subspecies; (now) spec. such a group in which the subgroups have largely non-overlapping (parapatric) ranges of distribution with the distinction between subspecies and separate species not being readily determinable. (OED 2012)
- 1859
-
Watson, H.C. (1859). Cybele Britannica, vol. IV: 48.
- 1863
-
These three plants therefore seem to be merely subspecies of one superspecies, to which the name [sc. Gladiolus] communis properly belongs.
Boswell Syme, J.T. (1863). Remarks on Gladiolus illyricus, Koch, and its allies. J. Bot. British Foreign 1, 130-134: 132.
- 1905
-
Superspecies […], a, group of sub-species or new species regarded as an entity.
Jackson, B.D. (1905). A Glossary of Botanic Terms: 261.
- 1931
-
I propose for Artenkreis the more convenient term, Superspecies. I define superspecies as a systematic unit containing geographically representative species that have developed characters too distinct to permit the birds to be regarded as subspecies of one species.
Mayr, E. (1931). Notes on Halcyon chloris and some of its subspecies. Amer. Mus. Novit. 1931, no. 469, 1-10: 2.
- 1952
-
Wenn auch der genetisch definierten Kategorie der Spezies nach wie vor ein hoher Grad von Realität zukommt, so erscheint uns doch die distributiv definierte Kategorie der Superspezies für die Phylogenie mindestens die gleiche Bedeutung zu haben; und da die Superspezies überdies in der Praxis viel leichter festzustellen und zu umgrenzen ist, scheint sie sich zur fundamentalen Einheit der Taxonomie besser zu eigenen als die Spezies.
Schilder, F.A. (1952). Einführung in die Biotaxonomie (Formenkreislehre). Die Entstehung der Arten durch räumliche Sonderung: 11-2.
- 1982
-
superspecies A monophyletic group of entirely or essentially allopatric species that are considered to be too distinct morphologically to be regarded as a single species; a cluster of incipient species (semispecies); in taxonomy the superspecies name is enclosed in square brackets between the two words of the binomen; collective species.
Lincoln, R.J., Boxshall, G.A. & Clark, P.F. (1982). A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics: 239.