Vombatiformes

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iVombatiformes
Phascolarctos cinereus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Subclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Suborder: Vombatiformes Burnett, 1830
Families
Phascolarctidae Vombatidae †Ilariidae †Diprotodontidae

Vombatiformes is one of the three suborders of the large marsupial order Diprotodontia. Five of the seven known families within this suborder are extinct; only the families Phascolarctidae, with the Koala, and Vombatidae, with three extant species of wombat, survive.

Among the extinct families are Diprotodontidae, which includes the diprotodon, believed by many to be the inspiration for the bunyip. "Vombatiformes" is neo-Latin for "wombat-shaped things", and took its name from its type family.

The suborder Vombatiformes, with its closely related members and their compact body form, contrasts with the other two diprotodont suborders, the Macropodiformes: kangaroos, wallabies and quokkas; and the Phalangeriformes: possums, including the gliders like the wrist-winged gliders. The Koala and wombats are believed by many biologists to share a common ancestor and to have diverged only recently in the Cenozoic.

[edit] Classification

Suborder Vombatiformes

• Family Phascolarctidae: Koala (1 species)
  • Genus Phacolarctidae
• Family Vombatidae: wombats (3 species)
  • Genus †Rhizophascolomus
  • Genus Vombatus
  • Genus †Phascolonus
  • Genus †Warendja
  • Genus †Ramasayia
  • Genus Lasiorhinus
• Family †Ilariidae
  • Genus †Kuterintja
  • Genus †Ilaria
• SuperFamily †Diprotodontidae
  • Genus †Alkertatherium
• Family †Zygomaturinae
  • Genus †Silvabestius
  • Genus †Neohelos
  • Genus †Raemeotherium
  • Genus †Plaisiodon
  • Genus †Zygomaturus
  • Genus †Kolopsis
  • Genus †Kolopsoides
  • Genus †Hulitherium
  • Genus †Maokopia
• Family †Diprotodontinae
  • Genus †Bematherium
  • Genus †Pyramios
  • Genus †Nototherium
  • Genus †Meniscolophus
  • Genus †Euryzygoma
  • Genus †Diprotodon
  • Genus †Euowenia
  • Genus †Stenomerus

[edit] References

• Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 43-44. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.