Taxonomy
Taxonomically, the two primary divisions of Marsupialia are: American marsupials and the Australian marsupials. The order Microbiotheria (which has only one species, the monito del monte) is found in South America, but is believed to be more closely related to the Australian marsupials. There are many small arboreal species in each group. The term 'opossums' is properly used to refer to the American species (though 'possum' is a common diminutive), while similar Australian species are properly called 'possums'.
-
- Order †Sparassodonta (formerly viewed as marsupials, now as a sister group of metatherians)
- Superorder Ameridelphia
- Order Didelphimorphia (93 species)
- Family Didelphidae: opossums
- Order Paucituberculata (six species)
- Family Caenolestidae: shrew opossums
- Order Didelphimorphia (93 species)
- Superorder Australidelphia
- Order Microbiotheria (one species)
- Family Microbiotheriidae: monito del monte
- Order †Yalkaparidontia
- Order Dasyuromorphia (71 species)
- Family †Thylacinidae: thylacine
- Family Dasyuridae: antechinuses, quolls, dunnarts, Tasmanian devil, and relatives
- Family Myrmecobiidae: numbat
- Order Peramelemorphia (24 species)
- Family Thylacomyidae: bilbies
- Family †Chaeropodidae: pig-footed bandicoot
- Family Peramelidae: bandicoots and allies
- Order Notoryctemorphia (two species)
- Family Notoryctidae: marsupial moles
- Order Diprotodontia (137 species)
- Family Phascolarctidae: koala
- Family Vombatidae: wombats
- Family †Diprotodontidae: diprotodon
- Family Phalangeridae: brushtail possums and cuscuses
- Family Burramyidae: pygmy possums
- Family Tarsipedidae: honey possum
- Family Petauridae: striped possum, Leadbeater's possum, yellow-bellied glider, sugar glider, mahogany glider, squirrel glider
- Family Pseudocheiridae: ringtailed possums and relatives
- Family Potoroidae: potoroos, rat kangaroos, bettongs
- Family Acrobatidae: feathertail glider and feather-tailed possum
- Family Hypsiprymnodontidae: musky rat-kangaroo
- Family Macropodidae: kangaroos, wallabies, and relatives
- Family †Thylacoleonidae: marsupial lions
- Order Microbiotheria (one species)
† indicates extinction
Read more about this topic: Marsupial