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Taxa

Phalangeridae

Mammal Families

Phalangeridae is a family of marsupials comprising the cuscuses and brushtail possums, native to Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands of Indonesia. The family includes the genus Trichosurus, the brushtail possums, arboreal and largely nocturnal animals that feed mainly on leaves, fruit and flowers.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Family 2
Geographic Distribution
Australia, New Guinea, and Eastern Indonesia as far west as Sulawesi 2
Defining Characteristics
Bare skin on at least part of the tail, and low-crowned molar teeth 2
Member Count Band
10 to 100 Species 3
Era First Appeared
Paleogene 4
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Connections

Parent Taxon Of

Ailurops, Taxa
Source Bear cuscus (Wikipedia)
Spilocuscus, Taxa
Source Spilocuscus (Wikipedia)
Strigocuscus, Taxa
Source Strigocuscus (Wikipedia)
Wyulda, Taxa
Source Wyulda (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ23230, descriptionView the Source
2. Phalangeridae - Wikipedia
  • Introduction, sentence 1
    The Phalangeridae are a family of mostly nocturnal marsupials
  • Introduction, sentence 1 (range)
    native to Australia, New Guinea, and Eastern Indonesia as far west as Sulawesi
  • Characteristics
    the presence of bare skin on at least part of the tail, and low-crowned molar teeth
View the Source
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Phalangeridae
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
Quote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 29
View the Source
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Phalangeridae
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Phalangeridae" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 27.3 ... "early_interval": "Chattian"
View the Source
Wikidata: Phalangeridae
Wikidata Q23230, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Bear cuscus (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Ailurops, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Ailurops, Lead
They are marsupials of the family Phalangeridae.
View the Source
Strigocuscus (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Strigocuscus, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Strigocuscus, Lead
is a nocturnal, arboreal marsupial genus in the family Phalangeridae
View the Source
Wyulda (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Wyulda, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Wyulda, Lead
Wyulda is a genus of phalanger.
View the Source
Spilocuscus (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Spilocuscus, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Spilocuscus, Lead
Spilocuscus is a genus of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae.
View the Source
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