Phalangeriformes

Phalangeriformes /fəˈlændʒərɪfɔːrmiːz/ are quadrupedal marsupials with long tails. They are a paraphyletic suborder of diprotodontia, consiting of about 70 species[clarification needed] of small to medium-sized marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi. It includes possums, gliders, and cuscus.

Phalangeriformes species are typically nocturnal and at least partially arboreal.[citation needed] They mostly inhabit vegetated habitats,[citation needed] and several species have adjusted well to urban settings.[citation needed] 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).[citation needed]

The smallest phalangeriforme species[citation needed], indeed the smallest diprotodont marsupial[citation needed], 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).[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

Classification

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.[clarification needed] 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.

Classification:

• Suborder Phalangeriformes: possums, gliders and allies[clarification needed] 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 Tous Ring-tailed glider, T. ayamaruensis 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 Western ringtail possum, P. occidentalis 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) Subfamily Dactylopsilinae Genus Dactylopsila Great-tailed triok, D. megalura Long-fingered triok, D. palpator Tate's triok, D. tatei Striped possum, D. trivirgata Genus Dactylonax Pygmy long-fingered possum, D. kambuayai Subfamily Petaurinae 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

See also

• Fauna of Australia

Further reading

• 6 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine – Australia Zoo
• – ABC (Science), Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Ruedas, L.A.; Morales, J.C. (2005). . Journal of Mammalogy. 86 (2): 353–365. doi:. JSTOR .
• on Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa