Vombatiformes

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.

Classification

Suborder Vombatiformes

• Family Phascolarctidae: Koala (1 modern species)^[1]
  • Genus †Cundokoala
  • Genus †Perikoala
  • Genus †Madakoala
  • Genus †Koobor
  • Genus †Litokoala
  • Genus †Nimiokoala
  • Genus Phascolarctos
• Family Vombatidae: wombats (3 modern species)
  • Genus †Rhizophascolomus
  • Genus Vombatus
  • Genus †Phascolonus
  • Genus †Warendja
  • Genus †Ramasayia
  • Genus Lasiorhinus
• Family †Ilariidae
  • Genus †Kuterintja
  • Genus †Ilaria
• Family †Palorchestidae
  • Genus †Palorchestes
  • Genus †Propalorchestes
  • Genus †Ngapakaldia
  • Genus †Pitikantia
• Superfamily †Diprotodontoidea
  • Genus †Alkwertatherium
  • Family †Zygomaturidae
    • Genus †Silvabestius
    • Genus †Neohelos
    • Genus †Raemeotherium
    • Genus †Plaisiodon
    • Genus †Zygomaturus
    • Genus †Kolopsis
    • Genus †Kolopsoides
    • Genus †Hulitherium
    • Genus †Maokopia
  • Family †Diprotodontidae
    • Genus †Bematherium
    • Genus †Pyramios
    • Genus †Nototherium
    • Genus †Meniscolophus
    • Genus †Euryzygoma
    • Genus †Diprotodon
    • Genus †Euowenia
    • Genus †Stenomerus

References

• Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M, eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 43-44. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.