Mammal Taxa

Most of the higher-level Linnean taxa (orders, families) are more or less recognized to be natural groupings (monophyletic taxa), so the traditional names of the major divisions of mammals are maintained.  There are three major lineages of extant mammals: Monotremata, Marsupialia, and Placentalia.

Monotremata: The living representatives include one species of duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchidae) and two species of Echidna or spiny anteater (Tachyglossidae).  These are the only mammals that lay eggs.

The Marsupialia (marsupials) constitute the second of the three major radiations of living mammals. Marsupials differ from all other mammals in a number of physiological and anatomical features, particularly those related to reproduction. The gestation period is very short compared with other mammals and the young are typically born in a practically embryonic state.

MAJOR GROUPS OF MARSUPIALS:

Didelphimorphia:

• These are the possums and their kin; today restricted to the Americas.

• middle Cretaceous to early Pliocene and also late Pliocene - Recent  in North America

• late Cretaceous to Recent in South America

• Eocene-Miocene in Europe

• Oligocene in Africa

Paucituberculata

• Shrew or rat oppossums

• two living species, both in Chile

• Eocene-Recent in South America

• **Gee Whiz: Fossils were found and described before the living representatives were known.

Microbiotheria

• Dromiciops  ("monito del monte"); 1 living species; Chile and Argentina.

• Oligocene-Miocene in Argentina

Dasyuromorphia

      3 families:

             Thylacinidae:

• Tasmanian Wolf;  only 1 species; Tasmania

• last wild record: 1930; last captive died in 1933; now classified as extinct

• Miocene-Recent in Australia, Tasmania

             Myrmecobiidae:

• Numbat or Banded Anteater;

• only 1 species: Myrmecobius fasciatus

• Pleistocene-Recent in Australia

             Dasyuridae: 

• about 58 living species in Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania;

• Marsupial mice, Marsupial cats, Tasmanian devil

• late Oligocene-Recent in Australia

• Pliocene-Recent in New Guinea

Peramelemorphia:

• Bandicoots

• late Oligocene-Recent in Australia and Tasmania.

Notoryctemorphia: 

• Marsupial mole;  only one species, Notoryctes typhlops

• known only from the Recent in Australia

Diprotodontia:

            10 families: examples include wombats, koala, kangaroos

                   Phascolarctidae (Koalas): Oligocene-Recent in Australia

                   Vombatidae (wombats): Oligocene-Recent in Australia

                   Macropodidae (kangaroos): Oligocene-Recent in

                                                         Australia

The third major group of extant mammals is the PLACENTALIA, the placental mammals. The major groups of placental mammals are listed below, with examples.

Xenarthra (sometimes Edentata):

            Sloths, armadillos and anteaters: Southern U.S., Central and South America

Pholidota: 

            Pangolins:

• Asia and Africa

• name menas "scaled animals"  dorsal part of body covered with large overlapping scales

Insectivora: 

            Moles, shrews, hedgehogs, tenrecs, golden moles, etc.

Rodentia:  all the rodents

            Examples include: mice, rats, porcupine, beaver, squirrels

Lagomorpha: 

            Hares, rabbits, pika

Macroscelidia

            Elephant shrews

Primates:

            Apes, lemurs, monkeys, humans, etc.

Scandentia:

            Tree shrews

Dermoptera:

            Colugos or flying lemurs

Chiroptera:

            Bats

Carnivora:

            Carnivorans (vs: "carnivores")  cats, dogs, weasels, skunks,

            otters, bears, raccoons, seals, sea lions, walrus

Artiodactyla:

      Pigs, cows, sheep, deer, camels, giraffes, etc

Cetacea: 

            Whales, porpoises and dolphins

Tubulidentata: 

            Aardvarks

Perissodactyla: 

            Horses, rhinoceroses, tapirs

Hyracoidea: 

            Hyraxes

Proboscidea:

            Elephants

Sirenia:

            Dugongs and manatees