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Mammal Diversity and Evolution
BIOL 345/445, ANAT 445
Dr. Darin Croft

     Below is a current list of mammal families and higher taxonomic groups. It is primarily based on Wilson and Reeder (2005), though it also includes various exinct families that we have discussed in class. I have divided the taxonomic groups into three categories:

1. Families in italics:
  • You DO NOT need to know the names or characteristics of these families.
  • You DO NOT need to be able identify the skulls of these families on a practical exam, at least not to family.
2. Groups marked with an asterisk (*):
  • You DO need to know the names of these groups.
  • You DO need to know how to identify members of these groups from a photo, their general morphology and ecology, etc.
  • You DO NOT need to be able to identify the skulls of these groups on a practical exam, though you DO need to be able to refer them to the correct higher-level group. For example, you will not be asked to refer a skull of Genetta to the Family Viverridae, but you might be asked to identify it as a carnivoran or a feliform.
3. All other groups:
  • You DO need to know the names of these groups.
  • You DO need to know how to identify them from a photo, their general morphology and ecology, etc.
  • You DO need to be able to identify the skulls of these groups on a practical exam.
  • You DO need to know which names correspond to orders and families.
  • You DO need to know the hierarchical relationships of these groups
  • You DO NOT need to know the ranks of groups other than orders and families.
     All supraordinal groups are in bold or underlined. This is only done to help clarify their hierarchical relationships. The hierarchical relationships of subordinal groups are indicated by the degree of indentation. More subordinate groups are indented to a greater degree.
     If you would like to hear how to pronounce a group name, click the abbreviation to the left of the name.

PRO
Mon
Orn
Tac
PROTOTHERIA
  Order Monotremata
        Family Ornithorhynchidae: platypus
        Family Tachyglossidae: echidnas
MET
Spr
Bor
Hat
Prb
Thy

Nec
Mar
Dim
Did
Pau
Abd
Cae
Pom
Arg
Gro
Pol
Mit
Mic
Dam
Das
Myr
Thy
Nom
Not
Pem
Cha
Per
Thy
Dip
Maf
Hyp
Mac
Pot
Phf
Acr
Pet
Pse
Tar
Bur
Pha
Vof
Pha
Vom
METATHERIA
  Order †Sparassodonta*: South American carnivorous marsupials
          Family †Borhyaenidae*
          Family †Hathliacynidae
          Family †Proborhyaenidae
          Family †Thylacosmilidae*
  Incertae sedis (may not even be in Metatheria)
          Family †Necrolestidae*
Marsupialia
  Order Didelphimorphia
          Family Didelphidae: American opossums
  Order Paucituberculata
          Family †Abderitidae
          Family Caenolestidae*: shrew opossums
  Order †Polydolopimorphia
          Family †Argyrolagidae*
          Family †Groeberiidae*
          Family †Polydolopidae*
  Order Microbiotheria
          Family Microbiotheriidae*: monito del monte
  Order Dasyuromorphia
          Family Dasyuridae: native “cats” and “mice”, antechinuses, etc.
          Family Myrmecobiidae: numbat
          Family Thylacinidae: thylacine
  Order Notoryctemorphia
          Family Notoryctidae*: marsupial moles
  Order Peramelemorphia
          Family Chaeropodidae*: pig-footed bandicoot
          Family Peramelidae: bandicoots
          Family Thylacomyidae*: bilbies
  Order Diprotodontia
    Suborder Macropodiformes
          Family Hypsiprymnodontidae: musky rat kangaroo
          Family Macropodidae: kangaroos and wallabies
          Family Potoroidae: bettongs, rat kangaroos
    Suborder Phalangeriformes
          Family Acrobatidae*: feathertail glider, feathertail possum
          Family Petauridae*: lesser gliders, Leadbeater's possum, striped possums
          Family Pseudocheiridae: ringtail possums
          Family Tarsipedidae*: honey possum
          Family Burramyidae: pygmy possums
          Family Phalangeridae: brushtail possums, cuscuses
    Suborder Vombatiformes
          Family Phascolarctidae: koala
          Family Vombatidae: wombats
EUT
PLA
XEN
Pil
Ver
Cyc
Myr
Tar
Bra
Mel
Myl
Met
Not
Cin
Das
Gly
Pam
Pel
EUTHERIA
Placentalia
Xenarthra
  Order Pilosa
    Suborder Vermilingua
          Family Cyclopedidae: silky anteaters
          Family Myrmecophagidae: anteaters
    Suborder Tardigrada
          Family Bradypodidae: three-toed sloths
          Family Megalonychidae: two-toes sloths
          Family †Mylodontidae*: extinct sloths
          Family †Megatheriidae*: extinct sloths
          Family †Nothrotheriidae*: extinct sloths
  Order Cingulata
          Family Dasypodidae: armadillos
          Family †Glyptodontidae*: glyptodonts
          Family †Pampatheriidae*: pampatheres
          Family †Peltephilidae*: horned armadillos
AFO
Afr
Chr
Ten
Mac
Mar
Tub
Ory
PAE
Hya
Pro
TET
Pro
Ele
Sir
Dug
Tri
Emb
Ars
Des
Afrotheria
  Order Afrosoricida
          Family Chrysochloridae: golden moles
          Family Tenrecidae: tenrecs
  Order Macroscelidea
          Family Macroscelididae: sengis
  Order Tubulidentata
          Family Orycteropidae: aardvarks
 Paenungulata
  Order Hyracoidea
          Family Procaviidae: hyraxes
 Tethytheria (within Paenungulata)
  Order Proboscidea
          Family Elephantidae: elephants
  Order Sirenia
          Family Dugongidae: dugong
          Family Trichechidae: manatees
  Order †Embrithopoda*
          Family Arsinoitheriidae*
  Order †Desmostylia*
LAU
Car
Fef
Nim
Nan
Fel
Viv
Hya
Her
Eup
Caf
Can
Urs
Pin
Pho
Ota
Odo
Mus
Ail
Mep
Pro
Mus
Pho
Man
Chi
Yin
Pte
Rhl
Hip
Meg
Cra
Rhp
Yan
Emb
Nyc
Phy
Mor
Noc
Fur
Thy
Mys
Myz
Min
Ves
Mol
Nat
Per
Eqi
Tap
Rhi
Bro
Cha
CTA
Art
Suf
Sud
Ent
Tay
Tyl
Cam
Pro
Ore
Whi
Hip
Rum
Tra
Ant
Gir
Cer
Mos
Bov
Cet
Odo
Del
Ini
Mon
Pho
Phy
Pla
Zip
Mys
Bld
Blp
Esc
Neo
EUL
Erm
Eri
Som
Sol
Nes
Sor
Tal
Laurasiatheria
  Order Carnivora
    Suborder Feliformia
          Family †Nimravidae*
          Family Nandiniidae: African palm civet
          Family Felidae: cats
          Family Viverridae*: civets, genets
          Family Hyaenidae: hyenas
          Family Herpestidae: mongooses
          Family Eupleridae*: Malagasy carnivorans
    Suborder Caniformia
          Family Canidae: dogs, foxes, wolves
          Family Ursidae: bears
       Pinnipedia
          Family Phocidae: true seals
          Family Otariidae: sea lions and fur seals
          Family Odobenidae: walrus
       Musteloidea
          Family Ailuridae: red panda
          Family Mephitidae:* skunks, stink badgers
          Family Procyonidae: raccoons, coatis
          Family Mustelidae: weasels, badgers
  Order Pholidota
          Family Manidae: pangolins
  Order Chiroptera
    Suborder Yinpterochiroptera*
          Family Pteropodidae: Old World fruit bats
          Family Rhinolophidae*: horseshoe bats
          Family Hipposideridae*: leaf-nosed, roundleaf, and trident bats
          Family Megadermatidae: false vampire bats
          Family Craseonycteridae: bumblebee bat
          Family Rhinopomatidae: mouse-tailed bats
    Suborder Yangochiroptera*
          Family Emballonuridae: sac-winged and sheath-tailed bats
          Family Nycteridae: slit-faced bats
          Family Phyllostomidae*: New World leaf-nosed bats
          Family Mormoopidae: ghost-faced, moustached, naked-backed bats
          Family Noctilionidae*: bulldog bats/fishing bats
          Family Furipteridae: smoky and thumbless bats
          Family Thyropteridae*: disc-winged bats
          Family Mystacinidae*: New Zealand short-tailed bats
          Family Myzopodidae: Old World sucker-footed bat
          Family Miniopteridae: bent-wing bats
          Family Vespertilionidae: evening and vesper batsx
          Family Molossidae*: free-tailed bats
          Family Natalidae: funnel-eared bats
  Order Perissodactyla: odd-toed ungulates
          Family Equidae: horses
          Family Tapiridae: tapirs
          Family Rhinocerotidae: rhinos
          Family †Brontotheriidae*
          Family †Chalicotheriidae*
Cetartiodactyla
  "Order" Artiodactyla (no longer a natural group in and of itself)
    Suiformes
          Family Suidae: pigs
          Family †Entelodontidae*
          Family Tayassuidae: peccaries
    Tylopoda
          Family Camelidae: camels
          Family †Protoceratidae*
          †Oreodontoidea*: oreodonts (various families)
    Whippomorpha (includes Cetacea, below)
          Family Hippopotamidae: hippos
    Ruminantia
          Family Tragulidae: chevrotains and mouse deer
          Family Antilocapridae: pronghorn
          Family Giraffidae: giraffes and okapi
          Family Cervidae: deer, elk, moose, etc.
          Family Moschidae: musk deer
          Family Bovidae: cattle, sheep, antelope, goats, etc.
  "Order" Cetacea (probably no longer ordinal rank)
    Suborder Odontoceti
          Family Delphinidae: dolphins, orcas, etc.
          Family Iniidae*: river dolphins
          Family Monodontidae: narwhal, beluga
          Family Phocoenidae: porpoises
          Family Physeteridae: sperm whales
          Family Platanistidae*: Indian river dolphins
          Family Ziphiidae*: beaked whales
    Suborder Mysticeti
          Family Balaenidae*: right, bowhead whales
          Family Balaenopteridae*: rorquals
          Family Eschrichtiidae*: gray whale
          Family Neobalaenidae: pygmy right whale
Eulipotyphla
  Order Erinaceomorpha
          Family Erinaceidae: hedgehogs, gymnures/moonrats
  Order Soricomorpha
          Family Solenodontidae: solenodons
          Family †Nesophontidae*:
          Family Soricidae: shrews
          Family Talpidae: moles, desmans
EUG
EUR
Sca
Pti
Tup
Der
Cyn
Pri
Str
Gal
Lor
Chi
Lem
Lep
Ind
Dau
Hap
Tar
Cat
Cer
Hyl
Hom
Pla
Aot
Ate
Ceb
Pit
GLI
Lag
Lep
Och
Rod
Anm
Ano
Ped
Cam
Cas
Geo
Het
Hym
Ctd
Dia
Hyg
Hys
Pet
Thy
Cap
Abr
Cap
Cav
Chi
Ctm
Cun
Dap
Din
Ech
Ere
Myc
Oct
Mym
Dip
Cal
Cri
Mur
Nes
Pal
Spa
Scm
Apl
Myl
Gli
Sci
Euarchontoglires
Euarchonta
  Order Scandentia
          Family Ptilocercidae*: pen-tailed treeshew
          Family Tupaiidae: treeshrews
  Order Dermoptera
          Family Cynocephalidae: colugos (aka “flying lemurs”)
  Order Primates
    Suborder Strepsirrhini
          Family Galagidae: galagos and bushbabies
          Family Lorisidae: lorises and pottos
          Family Cheirogaleidae*: dwarf and mouse lemurs
          Family Lemuridae: true lemurs
          Family Lepilemuridae*: sportive lemurs
          Family Indriidae*: indris, sifakas
          Family Daubentoniidae: aye-aye
    Suborder Haplorrhini
          Family Tarsiidae: tarsiers
       Catarrhini
          Family Cercopithecidae: Old World monkeys
          Family Hylobatidae*: gibbons
          Family Hominidae: great apes
       Platyrrhini
          Family Aotidae: night monkeys
          Family Atelidae: prehensile-tailed monkeys
          Family Cebidae: tamarins, marmosets, capuchins
          Family Pitheciidae*: titi monkeys, sakis, uakari
Glires
  Order Lagomorpha
          Family Leporidae: rabbits and hares
          Family Ochotonidae: pikas
  Order Rodentia
    Suborder Anomaluromorpha*
          Family Anomaluridae*: scaly-tailed squirrels
          Family Pedetidae: springhares
    Suborder Castorimorpha*
          Family Castoridae: beavers
          Family Geomyidae: pocket gophers
          Family Heteromyidae: kangaroo rats and mice, pocket mice
    Suborder Hystricomorpha*
          Family Ctenodactylidae: gundis
          Family Diatomyidae*
      Infraorder Hystricognathi
          Family Hystricidae*: Old World porcupines
          Family Petromuridae: dassie rat
          Family Thryonomyidae: cane rats
       Caviomorpha: endemic South American rodents
          Family Abrocomidae: chinchilla rats
          Family Capromyidae*: West Indian hutias
          Family Caviidae: guinea pigs, capybara, mara
          Family Chinchillidae: chinchillas and viscachas
          Family Ctenomyidae*: tuco-tucos
          Family Cuniculidae: pacas
          Family Dasyproctidae: agoutis and acouchis
          Family Dinomyidae*: pacarana
          Family Echimyidae*: spiny rats
          Family Erethizontidae: New World porcupines
          Family Myocastoridae*: nutria
          Family Octodontidae: degus, rock rats, viscacha rats
    Suborder Myomorpha*
          Family Dipodidae*: jerboas, birch mice, jumping mice
          Family Calomyscidae: mouse-like hamsters
          Family Cricetidae: New world mice, rats, voles, hamsters
          Family Muridae*: Old World mice, rats, gerbils
          Family Nesomyidae: endemic Africa and Malagasy mice
          Family Platacanthomyidae: Malabar spiny dormouse, pygmy dormice
          Family Spalacidae: blind and African mole rats, zokors, bamboo rats
    Suborder Sciuromorpha*
          Family Aplodontiidae: mountain beaver
          Family †Mylagaulidae*: extinct
          Family Gliridae*: dormice and hazel mice
          Family Sciuridae: squirrels

Incertae sedis (within Eutheria)
  Order †Notoungulata
    Suborder †Toxodontia
          Family †Homalodotheriidae*
          Family †Notohippidae*
          Family †Toxodontidae*
    Suborder †Typotheria
          Family †Interatheriidae*
          Family †Mesotheriidae*
          Family †Hegetotheriidae*
  Order †Litopterna
          Family †Proterotheriidae*
          Family †Macraucheniidae*
  Order †Pyrotheria*
          Family †Pyrotheriidae*
  Order †Astrapotheria*
          Family †Astrapotheriidae*

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This page was last updated on November 28, 2011.