A species consisting of smaller taxonomic units (subspecies) distributed in different parts of its range and differing in morphophysiological characteristics and lifestyle.

A polytypic species (complex species) is a biological species that includes several genetically distinct, often isolated forms (e.g. subspecies, races), reflecting the processes of speciation occurring at a given time. A species that is not polytypic is called a monotypic species. Sometimes a polytypic species is a complex of twin species. Most biological species on Earth are polytypic.