Diprotodontia is an order of Australian marsupial mammals. Members of this order are called diprotodonts. Diprotodontia is the largest order of marsupials and currently comprises 139 extant species, which are grouped into 39 genera. They are found in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia, in forests, shrublands, grasslands, and savannas, though some species are found in deserts and rocky areas. They come in a wide array of sizes, ranging from the Tasmanian pygmy possum, at plus a tail, to the red kangaroo, at plus a tail.
Diprotodontia is subdivided into three suborders: Macropodiformes, Phalangeriformes, and Vombatiformes. Macropodiformes has 71 species in 3 families: Hypsiprymnodontidae, Macropodidae, and Potoroidae, and includes kangaroos, wallabies, bettongs, potoroos, and rat-kangaroos. Phalangeriformes has 64 species in 6 families: Acrobatidae, Petauridae, Pseudocheiridae, Tarsipedidae, Burramyidae, and Phalangeridae, and includes cuscus and the brushtail, ringtail, and gliding possums. Vombatiformes has only four species in two families: Phascolarctidae, the koala, and Vombatidae, the wombats. The classification of species in the order is not fixed, with many recent proposals for changes made based on molecular phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, the present set of suborders was created beginning in 1997 by splitting the former suborder Phalangerida into Macropodiformes and Phalangeriformes, and further reorganizations have been proposed.
In addition to the extant species, nine species in the suborder Macropodiformes—four in the family Macropodidae and four in Potoroidae—have been made extinct in the modern era, eight between the 1880s and the 1940s after the colonization of Australia began: the broad-faced potoroo, crescent nail-tail wallaby, desert bettong, desert rat-kangaroo, eastern hare-wallaby, Lake Mackay hare-wallaby, Nullarbor dwarf bettong, and toolache wallaby, and one in 2026, the woylie. Dozens of extinct, prehistoric Diprotodont species have also been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.
Conventions The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the collective range of species in that genera is provided. Ranges are based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species unless otherwise noted. All extinct genera or species listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol "".
Classification
The order Diprotodontia consists of 140 extant species belonging to 39 genera. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species. Modern molecular studies indicate that the 39 genera can be grouped into 11 families; these families are grouped into the suborders Macropodiformes, Phalangeriformes, and Vombatiformes, and many are further grouped into named clades or subfamilies. In addition to the extant species, eight species in the suborder Phalangeriformes—four in the family Macropodidae and four in Potoroidae, including one extinct genus—have been made extinct in the modern era, all between the 1880s and the 1940s after the colonization of Australia began.
Suborder Macropodiformes Family Hypsiprymnodontidae (musky rat-kangaroo): 1 genus, 1 species Family Macropodidae Subfamily Macropodinae (kangaroos and wallabies) 12 genera, 66 species (4 extinct) Subfamily Sthenurinae (banded hare-wallaby) 1 genera, 1 species Family Potoroidae (bettongs, potoroos, and rat-kangaroos) 4 genera (1 extinct), 9 species (3 extinct)
Suborder Phalangeriformes Superfamily Petauroidea Family Acrobatidae (feather-tailed possum and feather-tailed glider): 2 genera, 2 species Family Petauridae (possums): 3 genera, 11 species Family Pseudocheiridae Subfamily Hemibelideinae (greater gliders): 2 genera, 2 species Subfamily Pseudocheirinae (ringtail possums): 3 genera, 11 species Subfamily Pseudochiropsinae (false ringtail possums): 1 genus, 5 species Family Tarsipedidae (honey possum): 1 genus, 1 species Superfamily Phalangeroidea Family Burramyidae (pygmy possums): 2 genera, 5 species Family Phalangeridae Subfamily Ailuropinae (bear cuscus): 1 genus, 2 species Subfamily Phalangerinae (cuscus): 5 genera, 25 species
Suborder Vombatiformes Family Phascolarctidae (koala): 1 genus, 1 species Family Vombatidae (wombats): 2 genera, 3 species
Diprotodonts The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.
Suborder Macropodiformes
Hypsiprymnodontidae
Macropodidae
Potoroidae
Suborder Phalangeriformes
Superfamily Petauroidea Acrobatidae
Petauridae
Pseudocheiridae
Tarsipedidae
Superfamily Phalangeroidea Burramyidae
Phalangeridae
Suborder Vombatiformes
Phascolarctidae
Vombatidae
References Wilson, Reeder, pp. 44–70
Doria's tree-kangaroo, Golden-mantled tree-kangaroo, Grizzled tree-kangaroo, Ifola, Lowlands tree-kangaroo, Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo, Seri's tree-kangaroo, Tenkile, Ursine tree-kangaroo, Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo: Nowak 2018, p. 319 Bennett's tree-kangaroo: Dingiso: Dabek, Valentine, Blessington, Schwartz, p. 241 Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo: Matschie's tree-kangaroo: Bennett's tree-kangaroo: Dingiso: ; Nowak 2018, p. 321 Doria's tree-kangaroo: ; Nowak 2018, p. 321 Golden-mantled tree-kangaroo: ; Nowak 2018, p. 321 Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo: Grizzled tree-kangaroo: ; Ifola: ; Nowak 2018, p. 321 Lowlands tree-kangaroo: ; Nowak 2018, p. 321 Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo: ; Matschie's tree-kangaroo: ; Seri's tree-kangaroo: ; Nowak 2018, p. 321 Tenkile: ; Ursine tree-kangaroo: ; Nowak 2018, p. 321 Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo: ; Nowak 2018, p. 321 Dingiso, Doria's tree-kangaroo, Golden-mantled tree-kangaroo, Ifola, Lowlands tree-kangaroo, Seri's tree-kangaroo, Ursine tree-kangaroo, Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo: Nowak 2018, p. 321 Bennett's tree-kangaroo: Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo: Grizzled tree-kangaroo: Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo: Matschie's tree-kangaroo: Tenkile: Brown dorcopsis, Gray dorcopsis, White-striped dorcopsis: Nowak 2005, p. 158 Black dorcopsis: Black dorcopsis: Brown dorcopsis: Gray dorcopsis: White-striped dorcopsis: Brown dorcopsis, Gray dorcopsis, White-striped dorcopsis: Nowak 2005, p. 158 Black dorcopsis: Nowak 2018, p. 317 Macleay's dorcopsis: Small dorcopsis: Macleay's dorcopsis: Small dorcopsis: Nowak 2018, p. 317 Eastern hare-wallaby: Strahan, p. 319 Lake Mackay hare-wallaby, Spectacled hare-wallaby: Nowak 2018, pp. 340–341 Rufous hare-wallaby: Eastern hare-wallaby: Lake Mackay hare-wallaby: Rufous hare-wallaby: Spectacled hare-wallaby: Eastern hare-wallaby: Strahan, p. 319 Lake Mackay hare-wallaby, Spectacled hare-wallaby: Nowak 2018, pp. 340–341 Rufous hare-wallaby: Eastern grey kangaroo, Western grey kangaroo: Nowak 2005, p. 170 Eastern grey kangaroo: Western grey kangaroo: Eastern grey kangaroo: Western grey kangaroo: Agile wallaby, Black-striped wallaby, Toolache wallaby, Western brush wallaby, Whiptail wallaby: Nowak 2005, p. 171 Parma wallaby: Red-necked wallaby: Tammar wallaby: Agile wallaby: Black-striped wallaby: Parma wallaby: Red-necked wallaby: Tammar wallaby: Toolache wallaby: Western brush wallaby: Whiptail wallaby: Agile wallaby: Black-striped wallaby: Parma wallaby: Red-necked wallaby: Tammar wallaby: Toolache wallaby: Taylor, p. 29 Western brush wallaby: Whiptail wallaby: Antilopine kangaroo, Common wallaroo: Nowak 2005, p. 170 Black wallaroo: Menkhorst; Knight, p. 122 Red kangaroo: Antilopine kangaroo: Black wallaroo: Common wallaroo: Red kangaroo: Antilopine kangaroo: Black wallaroo: Common wallaroo: Red kangaroo: Bridled nail-tail wallaby: Crescent nail-tail wallaby: Menkhorst; Knight, p. 128 Northern nail-tail wallaby: Nowak 2018, pp. 343–344 Bridled nail-tail wallaby: Crescent nail-tail wallaby: Northern nail-tail wallaby: Bridled nail-tail wallaby: Crescent nail-tail wallaby: Menkhorst; Knight, p. 128 Northern nail-tail wallaby: Nowak 2018, pp. 343–344 Allied rock-wallaby, Black-flanked rock-wallaby, Brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Cape York rock-wallaby, Godman's rock-wallaby, Herbert's rock-wallaby, Mareeba rock-wallaby, Monjon, Mount Claro rock-wallaby, Proserpine rock-wallaby, Purple-necked rock-wallaby, Rothschild's rock-wallaby, Short-eared rock-wallaby, Unadorned rock-wallaby: Nowak 2018, pp. 333–334 Nabarlek: Nowak 2018, p. 331 Yellow-footed rock-wallaby: Allied rock-wallaby: Black-flanked rock-wallaby: Brush-tailed rock-wallaby: Cape York rock-wallaby: Godman's rock-wallaby: Herbert's rock-wallaby: Mareeba rock-wallaby: Monjon: Mount Claro rock-wallaby: Nabarlek: Proserpine rock-wallaby: Purple-necked rock-wallaby: Rothschild's rock-wallaby: Short-eared rock-wallaby: Unadorned rock-wallaby: Yellow-footed rock-wallaby: Allied rock-wallaby, Black-flanked rock-wallaby, Cape York rock-wallaby, Godman's rock-wallaby, Herbert's rock-wallaby, Mareeba rock-wallaby, Monjon, Mount Claro rock-wallaby, Purple-necked rock-wallaby, Rothschild's rock-wallaby, Unadorned rock-wallaby: Nowak 2018, p. 335 Brush-tailed rock-wallaby: Nabarlek: Nowak 2018, p. 331 Proserpine rock-wallaby: Short-eared rock-wallaby: Yellow-footed rock-wallaby: Nowak 2018, p. 323
Brown's pademelon, Calaby's pademelon, Dusky pademelon, Mountain pademelon, Tasmanian pademelon: Nowak 2018, p. 327 Red-legged pademelon: Red-necked pademelon: Brown's pademelon: Calaby's pademelon: Dusky pademelon: Mountain pademelon: Red-legged pademelon: Red-necked pademelon: Tasmanian pademelon: Brown's pademelon, Calaby's pademelon, Dusky pademelon, Mountain pademelon, Red-necked pademelon, Tasmanian pademelon: Nowak 2018, p. 328 Red-legged pademelon:
Nowak 2005, p. 156
Boodie: Desert bettong: Eastern bettong: Northern bettong: Richardson, p. 28 Nullarbor dwarf bettong: Woylie: Boodie: Desert bettong: Eastern bettong: Northern bettong: Nullarbor dwarf bettong: Woylie: Boodie: Desert bettong: Eastern bettong: Northern bettong: Nullarbor dwarf bettong: Woylie: Nowak 2005, p. 153
Nowak 2005, p. 150 Broad-faced potoroo: Gilbert's potoroo: Long-footed potoroo: Long-nosed potoroo: Broad-faced potoroo, Long-nosed potoroo: Nowak 2005, p. 150 Gilbert's potoroo: Long-footed potoroo:
Nowak 2018, pp. 283–284 Great-tailed triok: Long-fingered triok: Striped possum: Tate's triok: Great-tailed triok, Long-fingered triok: Nowak 2018, pp. 283–284 Striped possum: Tate's triok: Nowak 2018, p. 281
Biak glider, Mahogany glider, Northern glider, Squirrel glider: Nowak 2018, pp. 275–276 Sugar glider: Yellow-bellied glider: Biak glider: Mahogany glider: Northern glider: Squirrel glider: Sugar glider: Yellow-bellied glider: Biak glider: Nowak 2018, pp. 275–276 Mahogany glider: Northern glider: Nowak 2018, pp. 275–276 Squirrel glider: Sugar glider: Yellow-bellied glider:
Nowak 2018, pp. 262–263
Common ringtail possum: Western ringtail possum: Nowak 2018, pp. 264–265 Common ringtail possum: Western ringtail possum: Common ringtail possum: Western ringtail possum: Nowak 2018, pp. 264–265 Daintree River ringtail possum, Lowland ringtail possum, Masked ringtail possum, Painted ringtail possum, Pygmy ringtail possum, Vogelkop ringtail possum, Weyland ringtail possum: Nowak 2018, pp. 267–268 Herbert River ringtail possum: Daintree River ringtail possum: