Biology:Phalangeriformes

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Phalangeriformes /fəˈlændʒərɪfɔːrmiːz/ are quadrupedal marsupials with long tails. They are a paraphyletic[1] suborder of diprotodontia, consiting of about 70 species[clarification needed] of small to medium-sized marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi.[2] It includes possums,[3] gliders, and cuscus.

Phalangeriformes species are typically nocturnal and at least partially arboreal. They mostly inhabit vegetated habitats,{{Citation needed|date=April 2026} well to urban settings.[citation needed] Diets range from generalist an [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 , indeed the smallest diprotodont marsupial{{Citation needed|date=April 2026} ], with an adult head-body length of 70 mm (2 3⁄4 in) and a weight of 10 g (3⁄8 oz).[4] The largest are the two species of bear cuscus, which may exceed 7 kg (15 lb 7 oz).[citation needed] The common name "(o)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").[5] However, although opossums are also marsupials, Australasian possums are more closely related to other Australasian marsupials such as kangaroos.

Classification

Main article: Biology:List of phalangeriformes
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.[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.[6][7]

Classification:

See also

  • Fauna of Australia

References

  1. ↑ Eldridge, Mark D B; Beck, Robin M D; Croft, Darin A; Travouillon, Kenny J; Fox, Barry J (2019-05-23). "An emerging consensus in the evolution, phylogeny, and systematics of marsupials and their fossil relatives (Metatheria)". Journal of Mammalogy 100 (3): 802–837. doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyz018. ISSN 0022-2372. 
  2. ↑ Groves, C. P. (2005). "Suborder Phalangeriformes". in Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 44–56. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?id=11000015. 
  3. ↑ opossum (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, September 2005, http://oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&q=opossum  (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. ↑ Ward, S.J. (1992). "Life-History of the Little Pygmy-Possum, Cercartetus lepidus (Marsupialia, Burramyidae), in the Big Desert, Victoria". Australian Journal of Zoology 40 (1): 43–55. doi:10.1071/ZO9920043. 
  5. ↑ Siebert, Frank T. Jr. (1975). "Resurrecting Virginia Algonquian from the Dead: The Reconstituted and Historical Phonology of Powhatan". in Crawford, James Mack. Studies in Southeastern Indian Languages. University of Georgia Press. 
  6. ↑ Warburton, Natalie M.; Prideaux, Gavin J. (2021). "The skeleton of Congruus kitcheneri, a semiarboreal kangaroo from the Pleistocene of southern Australia". Royal Society Open Science 8 (3). doi:10.1098/rsos.202216. PMID 33959368. Bibcode: 2021RSOS....802216W. 
  7. ↑ Eldridge, Mark D B; Beck, Robin M D; Croft, Darin A; Travouillon, Kenny J; Fox, Barry J (2019-05-23). "An emerging consensus in the evolution, phylogeny, and systematics of marsupials and their fossil relatives (Metatheria)". Journal of Mammalogy 100 (3): 802–837. doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyz018. ISSN 0022-2372. 

Further reading

  • Possums and Gliders – Australia Zoo
  • Urban Possums – ABC (Science), Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  • Ruedas, L.A.; Morales, J.C. (2005). "Evolutionary relationships among genera of Phalangeridae (Metatheria: Diprotodontia) inferred from mitochondrial data". Journal of Mammalogy 86 (2): 353–365. doi:10.1644/BER-117.1. 
  • Possums or Opossums? on Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Template:Phalangerida

Wikidata ☰ Q279198 entry



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