Phalangeriformes Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Phalangeriformes Temporal range: Oligocene–present PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Diprotodontia
Suborder:	Phalangeriformes Szalay in Archer, 1982
Groups included
Phalangeroidea †Ektopodontidae Burramyidae Phalangeridae Petauroidea Pseudocheiridae Petauridae Tarsipedidae Acrobatidae
Cladistically included but traditionally excluded taxa
Macropodiformes

Phalangeriformes is a paraphyletic suborder of about 70 species of small to medium-sized arboreal marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi. The species are commonly known as possums, gliders, and cuscus. The common name "possum" for various Phalangeriformes species derives from the creatures' resemblance to the opossums of the Americas (the term comes from Powhatan language aposoum "white animal", from Proto-Algonquian *wa·p-aʔɬemwa "white dog"). However, although opossums are also marsupials, Australasian possums are more closely related to other Australasian marsupials such as kangaroos.

Phalangeriformes are quadrupedal diprotodont marsupials with long tails. The smallest species, indeed the smallest diprotodont marsupial, is the Tasmanian pygmy possum, with an adult head-body length of 70 mm (2+3⁄4 in) and a weight of 10 g (3⁄8 oz). The largest are the two species of bear cuscus, which may exceed 7 kg (15 lb 7 oz). Phalangeriformes species are typically nocturnal and at least partially arboreal. They inhabit most vegetated habitats, and several species have adjusted well to urban settings. Diets range from generalist herbivores or omnivores (the common brushtail possum) to specialist browsers of eucalyptus (greater glider), insectivores (mountain pygmy possum) and nectar-feeders (honey possum).

Classification

Eastern pygmy possum, Pilliga forest, NSW

Sulawesi bear cuscus

Southern common cuscus, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland

Common spotted cuscus, Genoa

Common ringtail possum, Brisbane

Herbert River ringtail possum, 1884

Striped possum, Crater Lakes National Park, Queensland

Sugar gliders at mealtime

The diminutive feathertail glider

About two-thirds of Australian marsupials belong to the order Diprotodontia, which is split into three suborders, namely the Vombatiformes (wombats and the koala, four species in total); the large and diverse Phalangeriformes (the possums and gliders) and Macropodiformes (kangaroos, potoroos, wallabies and the musky rat-kangaroo). Note: this classification is based on Ruedas & Morales 2005. However, Phalangeriformes has been recovered as paraphyletic with respect to Macropodiformes, rendering the latter a subset of the former if Phalangeriformes are to be considered a natural group.

Suborder Phalangeriformes: possums, gliders and allies
- Superfamily Phalangeroidea
  - Family †Ektopodontidae:
    - Genus †Ektopodon
      - †Ektopodon serratus
      - †Ektopodon stirtoni
      - †Ektopodon ulta
  - Family Burramyidae: (pygmy possums)
    - Genus Burramys
      - Mountain pygmy possum, B. parvus
    - Genus Cercartetus
      - Long-tailed pygmy possum, C. caudatus
      - Southwestern pygmy possum, C. concinnus
      - Tasmanian pygmy possum, C. lepidus
      - Eastern pygmy possum, C. nanus
  - Family Phalangeridae: (brushtail possums and cuscuses)
    - Subfamily Ailuropinae
      - Genus Ailurops
        
        Talaud bear cuscus, A. melanotis
        
        Sulawesi bear cuscus, A. ursinus
      - Genus Strigocuscus
        
        Sulawesi dwarf cuscus, S. celebensis
        
        Banggai cuscus, S. pelegensis
    - Subfamily Phalangerinae
      - Tribe Phalangerini
        
        Genus Phalanger
        
        Gebe cuscus, P. alexandrae
        
        Mountain cuscus, P. carmelitae
        
        Ground cuscus, P. gymnotis
        
        Eastern common cuscus, P. intercastellanus
        
        Woodlark cuscus, P. lullulae
        
        Blue-eyed cuscus, P. matabiru
        
        Telefomin cuscus, P. matanim
        
        Southern common cuscus, P. mimicus
        
        Northern common cuscus, P. orientalis
        
        Ornate cuscus, P. ornatus
        
        Rothschild's cuscus, P. rothschildi
        
        Silky cuscus, P. sericeus
        
        Stein's cuscus, P. vestitus
        
        Genus Spilocuscus
        
        Admiralty Island cuscus, S. kraemeri
        
        Common spotted cuscus, S. maculatus
        
        Waigeou cuscus, S. papuensis
        
        Black-spotted cuscus, S. rufoniger
        
        Blue-eyed spotted cuscus, S. wilsoni
      - Tribe Trichosurini
        
        Genus Trichosurus
        
        Northern brushtail possum, T. arnhemensis
        
        Short-eared possum, T. caninus
        
        Mountain brushtail possum, T. cunninghami
        
        Coppery brushtail possum, T. johnstonii
        
        Common brushtail possum, T. vulpecula
        
        Genus Wyulda
        
        Scaly-tailed possum, W. squamicaudata
- Superfamily Petauroidea
  - Family Pseudocheiridae: (ring-tailed possums and allies)
    - Subfamily Hemibelideinae
      - Genus Hemibelideus
        
        Lemur-like ringtail possum, H. lemuroides
      - Genus Petauroides
        
        Central greater glider, P. armillatus
        
        Northern greater glider, P. minor
        
        Southern greater glider, P. volans
    - Subfamily Pseudocheirinae
      - Genus Petropseudes
        
        Rock-haunting ringtail possum, P. dahli
      - Genus Pseudocheirus
        
        Common ringtail possum, P. peregrinus
      - Genus Pseudochirulus
        
        Lowland ringtail possum, P. canescens
        
        Weyland ringtail possum, P. caroli
        
        Cinereus ringtail possum, P. cinereus
        
        Painted ringtail possum, P. forbesi
        
        Herbert River ringtail possum, P. herbertensis
        
        Masked ringtail possum, P. larvatus
        
        Pygmy ringtail possum, P. mayeri
        
        Vogelkop ringtail possum, P. schlegeli
    - Subfamily Pseudochiropsinae
      - Genus Pseudochirops
        
        D'Albertis' ringtail possum, P. albertisii
        
        Green ringtail possum, P. archeri
        
        Plush-coated ringtail possum, P. corinnae
        
        Reclusive ringtail possum, P. coronatus
        
        Coppery ringtail possum, P. cupreus
  - Family Petauridae: (striped possum, Leadbeater's possum, yellow-bellied glider, sugar glider, mahogany glider, squirrel glider)
    - Genus Dactylopsila
      - Great-tailed triok, D. megalura
      - Long-fingered triok, D. palpator
      - Tate's triok, D. tatei
      - Striped possum, D. trivirgata
    - Genus Gymnobelideus
      - Leadbeater's possum, G. leadbeateri
    - Genus Petaurus
      - Northern glider, P. abidi
      - Savanna glider, P. ariel
      - Yellow-bellied glider, P. australis
      - Biak glider, P. biacensis
      - Sugar glider, P. breviceps
      - Mahogany glider, P. gracilis
      - Squirrel glider, P. norfolcensis
      - Krefft's glider, P. notatus
  - Family Tarsipedidae: (honey possum)
    - Genus Tarsipes
      - Honey possum or noolbenger, T. rostratus
  - Family Acrobatidae: (feathertail glider and feather-tailed possum)
    - Genus Acrobates
      - Feathertail glider, A. pygmaeus
    - Genus Distoechurus
      - Feather-tailed possum, D. pennatus

Phalangeriformes facts for kids

Classification

See also