Basic info Taxonomic history Classification Included Taxa
Morphology Ecology and taphonomy External Literature Search Age range and collections

Phalangeriformes (possum)

Osteichthyes - Diprotodontia

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1982Phalangeriformes Szalay
1994Phalangeriformes Springer et al. p. 86
2005Phalangeriformes Wilson and Reeder
2008Phalangeriformes Prideaux and Warburton p. 464

Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data

RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
RankNameAuthor
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
Mammaliamorpha
Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
subclassMetatheria()
Marsupialiformes
Marsupialia()
AustralidelphiaSzalay 1982
orderDiprotodontiaOwen 1866
suborderPhalangeriformesSzalay 1982
suborderPhalangeriformesSzalay 1982

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Subor. Phalangeriformes Szalay 1982 [possum]
show all | hide all
Fm. Acrobatidae Aplin 1987 [feather-tailed possum]
hide
G. Acrobates Desmarest 1818 [feathertail glider]
+
Acrobates pygmaeus Shaw 1794 [feathertail glider]
G. Distoechurus Peters 1874 [feather-tailed possum]
+
Distoechurus pennatus Peters 1874 [feather-tailed possum]
Fm. Burramyidae Broom 1898 [pygmy possum]
hide
G. Burramys Broom 1896
+
Burramys brutyi Brammall and Archer 1997
Burramys parvus Broom 1896 [mountain pygmy possum]
Burramys triradiatus Turnbull et al. 1987
Burramys wakefieldi Pledge 1987
G. Cercartetus Gloger 1841 [pygmy possum]
+
Cercartetus caudatus Milne-Edwards 1877 [long-tailed pygmy possum]
Cercartetus concinnus Gould 1845 [southwestern pygmy possum]
Cercartetus lepidus Thomas 1888 [Tasmanian pygmy possum]
Cercartetus nanus Desmarest 1818 [eastern pygmy possum]
Invalid names: Dromicia Gray 1841 [synonym]
Fm. Petauridae Bonaparte 1838
hide
G. Dactylopsila Gray 1858 [triok]
+
Dactylopsila trivirgata Gray 1858 [striped possum]
G. Gymnobelideus McCoy 1867 [Leadbeater's possum]
G. Petaurus Shaw 1791 [wrist-winged glider]
+
Petaurus breviceps Waterhouse 1839 [sugar glider]
+
Petaurus breviceps flavidus Tate and Archbold 1935
Invalid names: Petaurus (Belideus) notatus Peters 1859 [synonym], Petaurus kohlsi Troughton 1945 [synonym]
Petaurus breviceps tafa Tate and Archbold 1935
Petaurus gracilis De Vis 1883 [mahogany glider]
Petaurus norfolcensis Kerr 1792 [squirrel glider]
Invalid names: Petaurus (Belideus) Waterhouse 1839 [invalid subgroup], Petaurus (Petaurella) Matschie 1916 [invalid subgroup], Petaurus (Petaurula) Matschie 1916 [invalid subgroup], Ptilotus Fischer 1814 [objective synonym], Xenochirus Gloger 1841 [synonym]
G. †Pseudokoala Turnbull and Lundelius 1970
G. Schoinobates Lesson 1842
Fm. Phalangeridae Thomas 1888
hide
Subfm. Ailuropinae Flannery et al. 1987
+
G. Ailurops Wagler 1830
+
Ailurops ursinus Temminck 1824 [Sulawesi bear cuscus]
G. Cercaertus Burmeister 1837
G. †Palaeopetaurus Broom 1896
G. Phalanger Storr 1780 [cuscus]
+
Phalanger breviceps Thomas 1888
Phalanger carmelitae Thomas 1898 [mountain cuscus]
Phalanger gymnotis Peters and Doria 1875 [ground cuscus]
Phalanger intercastellanus Thomas 1895 [eastern common cuscus]
Phalanger leucippus Thomas 1898
Phalanger maculatus Geoffroy 1803 [common spotted cuscus]
Phalanger orientalis Pallas 1766 [northern common cuscus]
Phalanger sericeus Thomas 1907 [silky cuscus]
Phalanger vestitus Milne-Edwards 1877 [Steins cuscus]
Invalid names: Balantia Illiger 1811 [synonym], Phalangista Geoffroy and Cuvier 1795 [synonym]
Subfm. Phalangerinae Thomas 1888
+
Tr. Phalangerini Thomas 1888
+
G. Spilocuscus Gray 1861
Tr. Trichosurini Flynn 1911
+
G. Strigocuscus Gray 1861
+
Strigocuscus notialis Flannery et al. 1987
Strigocuscus reidi Flannery and Archer 1987
Invalid names: Trichosuurini Flynn 1911 [empty]
G. Trichosurus Lesson 1828 [brushtail possum]
+
Trichosurus dicksoni Flannery and Archer 1987
Trichosurus hamiltonensis Flannery et al. 1987
Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr 1792 [common brushtail possum]
G. †Wyulda Alexander 1919
+
Wyulda asherjoeli Crosby 2001
Invalid names: Phalangistidae Gray 1821 [synonym], Phalangistina Gray 1825 [synonym]
hide
G. Tarsipes Gervais and Verreaux 1842 [honey possum]
+
Tarsipes rostratus Gervais and Verreaux 1842 [Honey possum]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: scansorialf
Diet: omnivoref
Reproduction: viviparoussubc
Created: 2005-09-07 09:16:13
Modified: 2011-04-27 20:22:07
Source: f = family, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Clemens 1979, Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988, Lillegraven 1979, Hopson 1973

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Late/Upper Oligocene to the top of the Holocene or 27.30000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 23.04 Ma

Collections (52 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Oligocene33.9 - 23.04Australia (Tasmania) Burramyidae indet. (182968)
Oligocene - Miocene33.9 - 5.333Australia (South Australia) Cercartetus nanus (182157)
Late/Upper Oligocene27.3 - 23.04Australia (South Australia) Petauridae indet. (45652 51412)
Late/Upper Oligocene27.3 - 23.04Australia (Northern Territory) Phalangeridae indet. (182619)
Late/Upper Oligocene - Early/Lower Miocene27.3 - 15.98Australia (Queensland) Burramys brutyi (182973) Wyulda asherjoeli (182149)
Late/Upper Oligocene - Early/Lower Miocene27.3 - 15.98Australia (South Australia) Burramys parvus (13313)
Aquitanian - Burdigalian23.04 - 15.98Australia (Queensland) Trichosurus sp., Burramys sp., Cercartetus sp. (183096)
Neogene23.04 - 2.58Australia (Victoria) Burramys sp. (182922)
Langhian - Serravallian15.98 - 11.63Australia (Queensland) Strigocuscus reidi, Trichosurus dicksoni (28420)
Tortonian11.63 - 7.246Australia (Queensland) Trichosurus sp., Burramys brutyi (68775)
Early/Lower Pliocene5.333 - 3.6Australia (Victoria) Pseudokoala erlita, Trichosurus hamiltonensis, Strigocuscus notialis, Burramys triradiatus (135705)
Early/Lower Pliocene5.333 - 3.6Australia (New South Wales) Cercartetus sp. (181610)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6Australia (Victoria) Phalangeridae indet. (70557) Phalangeridae indet., Petauridae indet., Pseudokoala erlita, Burramyidae indet., Trichosurus hamiltonensis, Strigocuscus notialis (70556) Trichosurus sp. (70558)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.58Australia (Victoria) Phalanger sp. (182150)
Piacenzian - Calabrian3.6 - 0.774Australia (Victoria) Phalangeridae indet. (70576)
Late/Upper Pliocene - Holocene3.6 - 0.0Australia (Western Australia) Trichosurus vulpecula, Cercartetus concinnus (182974)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.58 - 0.774Australia ( New South Wales) Trichosurus sp., Pseudokoala cathysantamaria (182621)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.58 - 0.774Australia (Western Australia) Cercartetus concinnus (181322)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.58 - 0.774Australia (New South Wales) Cercartetus indet. (182213)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117Australia (New South Wales) Cercartetus lepidus (182967) Trichosurus sp., Trichosurus vulpecula, Acrobates pygmaeus, Petaurus breviceps (96015) Trichosurus vulpecula (95899 96019)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117Australia (Queensland) Trichosurus sp. (138403)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117Australia (Western Australia) Trichosurus rulpecula, Cercartetus concinnus (182924)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117Australia (Victoria) Phalangeridae indet., Petauridae indet., Pseudokoala cathysantamaria (70579) Trichosurus sp. (136221)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117Australia (South Australia) Acrobates pygmaeus, Cercartetus nanus, Cercartetus lepidus, Petaurus breviceps (136076) Cercartetus nanus (136159) Trichosurus vulpecula, Cercartetus nanus, Petaurus breviceps (28298) Trichosurus vulpecula, Petaurus norfolcensis, Cercartetus nanus, Cercartetus lepidus, Petaurus breviceps (136430)
Quaternary2.58 - 0.0Australia (New South Wales) Trichosurus vulpecula (181307)
Middle Pleistocene0.774 - 0.129Australia (South Australia) Cercartetus nanus, Petaurus breviceps (28364)
Middle Pleistocene - Late/Upper Pleistocene0.774 - 0.0117Australia (South Australia) Cercartetus nanus, Cercartetus lepidus (136075) Trichosurus vulpecula, Petaurus norfolcensis, Acrobates pygmaeus, Cercartetus nanus, Cercartetus lepidus, Petaurus breviceps (182920 183262 183263)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117Australia (Victoria) Trichosurus vulpecula (182939)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117Australia (New South Wales) Acrobates pygmaeus, Cercartetus nanus, Cercartetus lepidus, Burramys parvus, Petaurus breviceps (181897) Cercaertus nanus, Palaeopetaurus elegans (182447)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117Australia (South Australia) Cercartetus nanus, Petaurus breviceps (182957) Trichosurus vulpecula, Acrobates pygmaeus, Cercartetus nanus, Cercartetus lepidus, Petaurus breviceps (136072) Trichosurus vulpecula, Cercartetus lepidus (181314)
Late/Upper Pleistocene - Holocene0.129 - 0.0Australia (South Australia) Trichosurus vulpecula, Acrobates pygmaeus (183085) Trichosurus vulpecula, Cercartetus nanus, Cercartetus concinnus, Cercartetus lepidus, Petaurus breviceps (136172)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Australia (Western Australia) Tarsipes sp. (183094)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Australia (New South Wales) Trichosurus vulpecula (235090)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Australia (Queensland) Petaurus australis, Trichosurus vulpecula, Petaurus norfolcensis, Cercartetus caudatus, Petaurus breviceps (21688)