Phalangerida is one of the two former suborders of the large marsupial order Diprotodontia. This large and diverse suborder included kangaroos, wallabies, quokkas, possums, gliding possum-like marsupials and others. The much smaller suborder Vombatiformes encompasses only the koalas and wombats. This suborder is no longer considered to accurately describe the diversity in Diprotodontia.

Phalangerida
Ground cuscus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Suborder: Phalangerida
Families

Phalangeridae: brushtail possums and cuscuses
Burramyidae: pygmy possums
Tarsipedidae: Honey possum
Petauridae: (Striped possum, Leadbeater's possum, and gliders)
Pseudocheiridae: ringtailed possums and allies
Potoridae: bettongs, potaroos and rat kangaroos
Acrobatidae: (Feathertail glider and Feathertail possum)
Hypsiprymnodontidae: Musky rat-kangaroo
Macropodidae: kangaroos, wallabies and allies

Phalangeriformes has come to replace Phalangerida but does not include the potoroos (Potoroidae), kangaroos and wallabies (Macropodidae) or the musky rat-kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodontidae). These families are now placed in a new suborder named Macropodiformes.

References

edit

Kear, B.P. & Cooke, B.N., 2001:12!20. A review of macropodoid systematics with the inclusion of a new family. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists 25, 83–101. ISSN 0810-8889