Themes > Science > Class Mammalia > Mammals > Order Diprotodontia > Order Diprotodontia

Family Macropodidae

Kangaroos

..Red Kangaroo
..Western Grey Kangaroo
..Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Tree Kangaroos

..Bennett's Tree Kangaroo
..Bondegezou
..Doria's Tree Kangaroo
..Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo
..Grizzled Grey Tree Kangaroo
..Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo
..Matschie's Tree Kangaroo
..Red Tree Kangaroo
..Veogeltop Tree Kangaroo

Family Petauridae

Gliders

..Sugar Glider

Family Phascolarctidae

Koalas

..Koala

Order Diprotodontia

This is the largest order in the subclass Metatheria, and contains many of the more familiar marsupials, such as the kangaroo and koala. Diprotodonts are easily recognizable in that the second and third digits on the hindefeet are fused together up to the base of the claws, with the claws not being fused (these marsupials are syndactylus). The teeth are the main distinguisher between this order and other orders. Their name, Diprotodontia, comes from the term "diprotodont" which means that they have a single pair of incisors located on the lower jaw, although in some species an additional pair is present). Three pairs of incisors are located on the top jaw. Diprotodonts lack lower canines but do have upper canines. Almost the entire order is herbivorous, with some being partially insectivorous. There are 10 families, with approx 110 species:

..Pseudocheiridae (ringtails, gliders) 14 spp
..Vombatidae (wombats) 3 spp
..Acrobatidae (feathertail gliders) 2 spp
..Petauridae (wrist-winged gliders) 10 spp
..Macropodidae (kangaroos, wallabies) 54 spp
..Potoroidae (rat kangaroos) 9 spp
..Phascolarctidae (koalas) 1 spp
..Phalangeridae (possums, cuscus) 18 spp
..Tarsipedidae (honey possums) 1 spp
..Burramyidae (pygmy possums) 5 spp

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