Vombatiformes
The Vombatiformes are 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.
Vombatiformes | |
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Phascolarctos cinereus | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Diprotodontia |
Suborder: | Vombatiformes Burnett, 1830 |
Families | |
Among the extinct families are the Diprotodontidae, which includes 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 the quokka; and the Phalangeriformes: possums, including the gliders such as 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.
In 2020 fossils of Mukupirna, meaning big bones was found. This is thought to be the ancestor of all living wombats and the koala.[1]
Classification
![](../I/m/Vombatus_ursinus_-Maria_Island_National_Park.jpg)
Suborder Vombatiformes
- Family Vombatidae: wombats (three modern species)
- Genus †Rhizophascolonus
- Genus Vombatus
- Genus †Phascolonus
- Genus †Warendja
- Genus †Ramasayia
- Genus Lasiorhinus
- Family Phascolarctidae: koala (one modern species)[2]
- Genus †Perikoala
- Genus †Madakoala
- Genus †Koobor
- Genus †Litokoala
- Genus †Nimiokoala
- Genus Phascolarctos
- Family †Ilariidae
- genus †Nimbadon
- Genus †Koalemas
- Genus †Kuterintja
- Genus †Ilaria
- Family †Maradidae
- Genus †Marada [3]
- Family †Thylacoleonidae: (marsupial lions)[4]
- Genus †Thylacoleo
- Genus †Priscileo
- Genus †Wakaleo
- Family †Wynyardiidae
- Genus †Wynyardia
- Genus †Muramura
- Genus †Namilamadeta
- Superfamily Diprotodontoidea[5]
- Family †Diprotodontidae: (giant wombats)[5]
- Genus †Alkwertatherium
- Genus †Bematherium
- Genus †Pyramios
- Genus †Nototherium
- Genus †Meniscolophus
- Genus †Euryzygoma
- Genus †Diprotodon†Diprotodon optatum
- Genus †Euowenia
- Genus †Sthenomerus
- Subfamily †Zygomaturinae[5]
- Genus †Silvabestius
- Genus †Neohelos[5]
- Genus †Raemeotherium
- Genus †Plaisiodon
- Genus †Zygomaturus
- Genus †Kolopsis[5]
- Genus †Kolopsoides
- Genus †Hulitherium
- Genus †Maokopia†Palorchestes azael
- Family †Palorchestidae: (marsupial tapirs)[5]
- Genus †Palorchestes
- Genus †Propalorchestes
- Genus †Ngapakaldia
- Genus †Pitikantia
- Family †Diprotodontidae: (giant wombats)[5]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vombatiformes. |
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Wikispecies has information related to Vombatiformes |
- Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 43–44. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
- "Fossils of 'big boned' marsupial shed light on wombat evolution". The Guardian. The Guardian. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- McKenna, Malcolm C.; Bell, Susan K., eds. (1997). Classification of mammals – above the species level. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. xii–631. ISBN 9780231110129.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- BLACK, K., March 2007. Maradidae: a new family of vombatomorphian marsupial from the late Oligocene of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland. Alcheringa 31, 17-32. ISSN 0311-5518
- Naish, Darren. "Of koalas and marsupial lions: the vombatiform radiation, part I". Scientific American. Scientific American, Inc. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- Black, K. (2012). "Revision in the marsupial diprotodontid genus Neohelos: Systematics and biostratigraphy". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. doi:10.4202/app.2012.0001.