The Vombatiformes are one of the three

suborder Order () is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ranks in Linnaean taxonomy. It is classified between family and class. In biological classification, the order is a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms and recognized ...

s of the large

marsupial Marsupials are a diverse group of mammals belonging to the infraclass Marsupialia. They are natively found in Australasia, Wallacea, and the Americas. One of marsupials' unique features is their reproductive strategy: the young are born in a r ...

order

Diprotodontia Diprotodontia (, from Greek language, Greek "two forward teeth") is the largest extant order (biology), order of marsupials, with about 155 species, including the kangaroos, Wallaby, wallabies, Phalangeriformes, possums, koala, wombats, and many ...

. Seven of the nine known

families Family (from ) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictability, structure, and safety as ...

within this suborder are extinct; only the families

Phascolarctidae The Phascolarctidae (''φάσκωλος (phaskolos)'' - pouch or bag, ''ἄρκτος (arktos)'' - bear, from the Greek ''phascolos'' + ''arctos'' meaning pouched bear) is a family of marsupials of the order Diprotodontia, consisting of only one ...

, with the

koala The koala (''Phascolarctos cinereus''), sometimes inaccurately called the koala bear, is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only Extant taxon, extant representative of the Family (biology), family ''Phascolar ...

, and Vombatidae, with three extant species of

wombat Wombats are short-legged, muscular quadrupedal marsupials of the family Vombatidae that are native to Australia. Living species are about in length with small, stubby tails and weigh between . They are adaptable and habitat tolerant, and are ...

, survive. Among the extinct families are the

Diprotodontidae Diprotodontidae is an extinct family of large herbivorous marsupials, endemic to Australia and New Guinea during the Oligocene through Pleistocene periods from 28.4 million to 40,000 years ago. Description The family primarily consisted of lar ...

, which includes the rhinoceros sized ''

Diprotodon ''Diprotodon'' (Ancient Greek: "two protruding front teeth") is an extinct genus of marsupial from the Pleistocene of Australia containing one species, ''D. optatum''. The earliest finds date to 1.77 million to 780,000 years ago but most speci ...

'', believed to be the largest marsupials ever, as well as the "marsupial lions"

Thylacoleonidae Thylacoleonidae is a family of extinct carnivorous diprotodontian marsupials from Australia, referred to as marsupial lions. The best known is '' Thylacoleo carnifex'', also called the marsupial lion. The clade ranged from the Late Oligocene to t ...

and "marsupial tapirs"

Palorchestidae Palorchestidae is an extinct family of vombatiform marsupials whose members are sometimes referred to as marsupial tapirs due to the retracted nasal region of their skulls causing them to superficially resemble those of true tapirs. The idea tha ...

Classification

After Suborder Vombatiformes * Family †

: ( marsupial lions) ** Genus ''

Microleo ''Microleo attenboroughi'' is a very small species of the Thylacoleonidae family of marsupials from the Early Miocene of Australia, living in the wet forest that dominated Riversleigh around 18 million years ago. The genus ''Microleo'' is current ...

'' ** Genus '' Priscileo'' ** Genus ''

Thylacoleo ''Thylacoleo'' ("pouch lion") is an extinct genus of carnivorous marsupials that lived in Australia from the late Pliocene to the Late Pleistocene (until around 40,000 years ago), often known as marsupial lions. They were the largest and last mem ...

'' ** Genus ''

Wakaleo ''Wakaleo'' (Diyari ''waka'', "little", "small"; and Latin ''leo'', "lion") is an extinct genus of medium-sized thylacoleonids that lived in Australia in the Late Oligocene and Miocene Epochs. Taxonomy ''Wakaleo'' was erected in 1974 by W. A ...

'' *Infraorder

Phascolarctomorphia The Phascolarctidae (''φάσκωλος (phaskolos)'' - pouch or bag, ''ἄρκτος (arktos)'' - bear, from the Greek ''phascolos'' + ''arctos'' meaning pouched bear) is a family of marsupials of the order Diprotodontia, consisting of only one ...

** Family

*** Genus ''

Phascolarctos ''Phascolarctos'' is a genus of marsupials with one extant species, the koala '' Phascolarctos cinereus'', an iconic animal of Australia. Several extinct species of the genus are known from fossil material, these were also large tree dwellers tha ...

'' (one

living Living or The Living may refer to: Common meanings *Life, a condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms ** Living species, one that is not extinct *Personal life, the course of an individual human's life * ...

species) *** Genus †''

Koobor ''Koobor'' is an extinct genus of extinct phascolarctid marsupials Marsupials are a diverse group of mammals belonging to the infraclass Marsupialia. They are natively found in Australasia, Wallacea, and the Americas. One of marsupials' u ...

'' *** Genus †''

Litokoala ''Litokoala'' is an extinct genus of marsupials, and along with '' Nimiokoala'', is closely related to the modern koala. The three genera may have diverged at an earlier date, although the drying of the continent and the expansion of ''Eucalyptus ...

'' *** Genus †''

Madakoala ''Madakoala'' is a genus of extinct phascolarctid marsupials with three known species, ''Madakoala devisi,'' ''Madakoala wellsi'' ''and'' ''Madakoala robustus''. It is allied to extinct genera '' Invictokoala, Koobor, Litokoala, Nimiokoala, Pe ...

'' *** Genus †''

Nimiokoala ''Nimiokoala greystanesi'' is an extinct marsupial, closely related to the extant koala, that inhabited northwestern Queensland in the early-middle Miocene (23–16 million years ago). It is the only species assigned to the genus ''Nimiokoal ...

'' *** Genus †''

Perikoala ''Perikoala'' is an extinct genus of marsupials, related to the modern koala The koala (''Phascolarctos cinereus''), sometimes inaccurately called the koala bear, is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only ...

'' * Infraorder Vombatomorphia ** Family †

Ilariidae Ilariidae is a family of extinct vombatiform marsupials. Most ilariids are found in the middle Tertiary faunal assemblages of South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in t ...

*** Genus ''

Ilaria ''Ilaria'' is an extinct genus of marsupial of the family Ilariidae, dating from the Late Oligocene of South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part ...

'' *** Genus '' Koalemas'' *** Genus ''

Kuterintja ''Kuterintja'' is an extinct genus of marsupial of the family Ilariidae. Only one species has been described, ''Kuterintja ngama'', from Late Oligocene The Chattian is, in the geologic timescale The geologic time scale or geological time ...

'' ** Family †

Wynyardiidae Wynyardiidae is an extinct family of possum-like marsupials from the early Miocene of Wynyard in Tasmania, long been considered to display skeletal features that are intermediate between the primitive polyprotodont and the advanced diprotodont ...

*** Genus '' Muramura'' *** Genus '' Namilamadeta'' *** Genus '' Wynyardia'' ** Superfamily Vombatoidea *** Family Vombatidae:

s (two living genera) **** Genus ''

Lasiorhinus ''Lasiorhinus'' is the genus containing the two extant hairy-nosed wombats, which are found in Australia. The southern hairy-nosed wombat is found in some of the semiarid to arid regions belt from New South Wales southwest to the South Australia ...

'' **** Genus ''

Vombatus ''Vombatus'' is a genus of marsupial that contains a single living species, the common wombat The common wombat (''Vombatus ursinus''), also known as the bare-nosed wombat, is a marsupial, one of three extant species of wombats and the only o ...

'' **** Genus †''

Rhizophascolonus ''Rhizophascolonus'' is an extinct genus of wombat Wombats are short-legged, muscular quadrupedal marsupials of the family Vombatidae that are native to Australia. Living species are about in length with small, stubby tails and weigh betw ...

'' **** Genus †''

Phascolonus ''Phascolonus'' is an extinct genus of giant wombat known from the Pliocene and Pleistocene of Australia. There is only a single known species, ''Phascolonus gigas'', the largest wombat ever known to have existed, estimated to weigh as much as 20 ...

'' **** Genus †''

Warendja ''Warendja'' is an extinct genus of wombat. It is known from two species, ''W. encorensis'' from the Late Miocene Riversleigh site in Queensland,Brewer, P., M. Archer, S. Hand, and H. Godthelp. 2007. A new species of the wombat ''Warendja'' from ...

'' **** Genus †''

Ramsayia ''Ramsayia'' is an extinct genus of giant wombat, weighing around 100 kg. ''Ramsayia'' is known from two species, ''Ramsayia lemleyi'' from the Pliocene of Queensland, and ''Ramsayia magna'' from the Pliocene to Late Pleistocene of Queenslan ...

'' **** Genus †''

Sedophascolomys ''Sedophascolomys'' is an extinct genus of wombat known from the Pliocene and Pleistocene of Australia. There is a single recognised species, ''S. medius,'' which was formerly placed in the invalid genus ''Phascolomys.'' It was found in the north ...

'' *** Family †Maradidae **** Genus '' Marada'' BLACK, K., March 2007. Maradidae: a new family of vombatomorphian marsupial from the late Oligocene of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland. Alcheringa 31, 17-32.
*** Genus '' Nimbavombatus'' (either considered the most basal vombatid or just outside Vombatidae) *** Family †Mukupirnidae **** Genus '' Mukupirna'' ** Superfamily †Diprotodontoidea *** Genus †''

Silvabestius ''Silvabestius'' is an extinct genus of marsupial dating to the Early Miocene. They were grazing animals about the size of a modern sheep. This animal is known from two skulls found close together which have come to be known as the "Madonna and ...

'' *** Genus †''

Ngapakaldia ''Ngapakaldia'' is an extinct genus of diprotodontid marsupials, related to the modern koala and wombat. Around the size of a sheep, it was a ground-dwelling herbivore that lived around the vegetated shores of lakes in Central Australia during th ...

'' *** Genus †''

Nimbadon ''Nimbadon'' is an extinct genus of marsupial, that lived from the Oligocene to the Miocene. Many fossils have been found in the Riversleigh World Heritage property in north-western Queensland. It is thought to have an arboreal lifestyle. In 1 ...

'' *** Genus †''

Neohelos ''Neohelos'' is an extinct diprotodontid marsupial, that lived from the early to middle-Miocene. There are four species assigned to this genus, ''Neohelos tirarensis'', the type species, ''N. stirtoni'', ''N. solus'' and ''N. davidridei''. ''N. d ...

'' *** Family †

: **** Genus ''

Alkwertatherium ''Alkwertatherium'' is an extinct genus of marsupial of the family Diprotodontidae. Only one species has been described, ''Alkwertatherium webbi'', from the Late Miocene of Northern Territory, Australia Australia, officially the Commonw ...

'' **** Genus ''

Bematherium ''Ngapakaldia'' is an extinct genus of diprotodontid marsupials, related to the modern koala and wombat. Around the size of a sheep, it was a ground-dwelling herbivore that lived around the vegetated shores of lakes in Central Australia during th ...

'' **** Genus ''

Euowenia ''Euowenia'' is an extinct genus of Diprotodontia which existed from the Pliocene to the upper Pleistocene. Weighing around 500 kg, ''Euowenia'' is only known from three locations on mainland Australia, Chinchilla in Queensland, Menindee in ...

'' **** Genus '' Euryzygoma'' **** Genus ''

Meniscolophus ''Meniscolophus'' is an extinct genus of marsupial of the family Diprotodontidae. Only one species has been described, ''Meniscolophus mawsoni'', from the Late Pliocene of the Tirari Desert, South Australia. History and naming The first remains ...

'' **** Genus ''

Nototherium ''Nototherium'', from Ancient Greek νότος (''nótos''), meaning "south", and θηρίον (''theríon''), meaning "beast", is an extinct genus of diprotodontid marsupial from Australia and New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gi ...

'' **** Genus ''

Pyramios ''Pyramios'' is an extinct genus of diprotodont from the Miocene of Australia. It was very large, reaching a length of about 2.5 m (8.2 feet) and a height of about 1.5 m (4.92 feet). ''Pyramios'' is estimated to have weighed 700 kg (1102-15 ...

'' **** Genus ''

Sthenomerus ''Sthenomerus'' is an extinct genus of Diprotodontia Diprotodontia (, from Greek language, Greek "two forward teeth") is the largest extant order (biology), order of marsupials, with about 155 species, including the kangaroos, Wallaby, wallabi ...

'' **** Subfamily †

Zygomaturinae Diprotodontidae is an extinct family of large herbivorous marsupials, endemic to Australia and New Guinea during the Oligocene through Pleistocene periods from 28.4 million to 40,000 years ago. Description The family primarily consisted of lar ...

***** Genus ''

Hulitherium ''Hulitherium tomasetti'' (meaning "Huli beast", after the Huli people) is an extinct zygomaturine marsupial that lived in New Guinea during the Pleistocene. The species name honours Berard Tomasetti, a Catholic priest in Papua New Guinea, who ...

'' ***** Genus ''

Kolopsis ''Kolopsis'' is an extinct genus of diprotodontid marsupials from Australia and Papua New Guinea. It contains three species, although ''K. rotundus'' may be more closely related to other zygomaturines than to ''Kolopsis''. *†''Kolopsis rotun ...

'' ***** Genus '' Kolopsoides'' ***** Genus '' Maokopia'' ***** Genus ''

'' ***** Genus '' Plaisiodon'' ***** Genus ''

Raemeotherium ''Raemeotherium'' is an extinct genus of marsupial of the family Diprotodontidae. Only one species has been described, ''Raemeotherium yatkolai'', from the Late Oligocene Namba Formation of South Australia. History and naming In late 1976, Ian ...

'' ***** Genus ''

Zygomaturus ''Zygomaturus'' is an extinct genus of giant marsupial belonging to the family Diprotodontidae which inhabited Australia from the Late Miocene to Late Pleistocene. Description It was a large animal, weighing 500 kg (1100 lbs) or o ...

'' *** Family †

: ( marsupial tapirs) **** Genus ''

Palorchestes ''Palorchestes'' ("ancient leaper") is an extinct genus of large terrestrial, herbivorous Australian marsupial of the family Palorchestidae, living from the Miocene through to the Late Pleistocene. Like other palorchestids, it had highly retract ...

'' **** Genus '' Pitikantia'' **** Genus ''

Propalorchestes ''Propalorchestes'' is a fossil genus of palorchestid marsupial that existed in Australia during the Miocene epoch. Overview The type species is ''Propalorchestes novaculacephalus''. The genus is probably ancestral to ''Palorchestes'' and resem ...

References

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q1067017 Chattian first appearances