Mammalia Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur o ...

is a class of animal within the phylum

Chordata A chordate () is an animal of the phylum Chordata (). All chordates possess, at some point during their larval or adult stages, five synapomorphies, or primary physical characteristics, that distinguish them from all the other taxa. These fiv ...

. Mammal classification has been through several iterations since

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...

initially defined the class. No classification system is universally accepted; McKenna & Bell (1997) and Wilson & Reader (2005) provide useful recent compendiums. Many earlier ideas from Linnaeus et al. have been completely abandoned by modern taxonomists, among these are the idea that

bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most bi ...

s are related to

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

s or that

human Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, ...

s represent a group outside of other living things. Competing ideas about the relationships of mammal orders do persist and are currently in development. Most significantly in recent years, cladistic thinking has led to an effort to ensure that all taxonomic designations represent

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...

groups. The field has also seen a recent surge in interest and modification due to the results of

molecular phylogenetics Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

. George Gaylord Simpson's classic "Principles of Classification and a Classification of Mammals" ( Simpson, 1945)

taxonomy Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification. A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...

text laid out a

systematics Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of living forms, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees (synonyms: cladograms, phylogenetic tre ...

mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...

origins and relationships that was universally taught until the end of the 20th century. Since Simpson's 1945

classification Classification is a process related to categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated and understood. Classification is the grouping of related facts into classes. It may also refer to: Business, organizat ...

, the paleontological record has been recalibrated, and the intervening years have seen much debate and progress concerning the theoretical underpinnings of systematization itself, partly through the new concept of

cladistics Cladistics (; ) is an approach to biological classification in which organisms are categorized in groups (" clades") based on hypotheses of most recent common ancestry. The evidence for hypothesized relationships is typically shared derived char ...

. Though field work gradually made Simpson's classification outdated, it remained the closest thing to an official classification of mammals. See

List of placental mammals The class Mammalia (mammals) is divided into two subclasses based on reproductive techniques: monotremes, which lay eggs, and therians, mammals which give live birth, which has two infraclasses: marsupials ( pouched mammals) and placental mammals ...

and List of monotremes and marsupials for more detailed information on mammal genera and species.

Molecular classification of placentals

Molecular studies by molecular systematists, based on DNA analysis, in the early 21st century have revealed new relationships among mammal families. Classification systems based on molecular studies reveal three major groups or lineages of placental mammals, Afrotheria, Xenarthra, and

Boreotheria Boreoeutheria (, "northern true beasts") is a magnorder of placental mammals that groups together superorders Euarchontoglires and Laurasiatheria. With a few exceptionsExceptional clades whose males lack the usual boreoeutherian scrotum are moles ...

. which diverged from early common ancestors in the

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of th ...

. The relationships between these three lineages is contentious, and all three have been proposed as basal in different hypotheses. The following taxonomy only includes living placentals (infraclass Eutheria):

Atlantogenata

Afrotheria

*Class

Afroinsectiphilia The Afroinsectiphilia (African insectivores) is a clade that has been proposed based on the results of recent molecular phylogenetic studies. Many of the taxa within it were once regarded as part of the order Insectivora, but Insectivora is now ...

**Order Macroscelidea ***Family Macroscelididae: (20 species), sengis or elephant shrews (Africa) **Order

Afrosoricida The order Afrosoricida (a Latin-Greek compound name which means "looking like African shrews") contains the golden moles of Southern Africa, the otter shrews of equatorial Africa and the tenrecs of Madagascar. These three families of small mamma ...

***Family Tenrecidae: (31 species), tenrecs (Madagascar) ***Family

Potamogalidae Potamogalidae is the family of "otter shrews", a group of semiaquatic riverine afrotherian mammals indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. They are most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar, from which they are thought to have split about 47– ...

: (3 species), otter-shrews (West and Central Africa) ***Family Chrysochloridae: (21 species), golden moles (Africa south of the Sahara) **Order Tubulidentata ***Family

Orycteropodidae Orycteropodidae is a family of afrotherian mammals. Although there are many fossil species, the only species surviving today is the aardvark, ''Orycteropus afer''. Orycteropodidae is recognized as the only family within the order Tubulidentata ...

: (1 species), aardvark (Africa south of the Sahara) *Class

Paenungulata Paenungulata (from Latin ''paene'' "almost" + ''ungulātus'' "having Hoof, hoofs") is a clade of "sub-Ungulate, ungulates", which groups three Extant taxon, extant mammal Order (biology), orders: Proboscidea (including elephants), Sirenia (sirenia ...

**Order

Proboscidea The Proboscidea (; , ) are a taxonomic order of afrotherian mammals containing one living family (Elephantidae) and several extinct families. First described by J. Illiger in 1811, it encompasses the elephants and their close relatives. From ...

***Family Elephantidae: (3 species), elephants (Africa, Southeast Asia) **Order Hyracoidea ***Family

Procaviidae Hyraxes (), also called dassies, are small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. Hyraxes are well-furred, rotund animals with short tails. Typically, they measure between long and weigh between . They are superficially simi ...

: (4 species), hyraxes, dassies (Africa, Arabia) **Order Sirenia ***Family

Dugongidae Dugongidae is a family in the order of Sirenia. The family has one surviving species, the dugong (''Dugong dugon''), one recently extinct species, Steller's sea cow (''Hydrodamalis gigas''), and a number of extinct genera known from fossil rec ...

: (1 species), dugong (East Africa, Red Sea, North Australia) ***Family Trichechidae: (3 species), manatees (tropical Atlantic coasts and adjacent rivers)

Xenarthra

*Order Cingulata **Family

Chlamyphoridae Chlamyphoridae is a family of cingulate mammals. While glyptodonts have traditionally been considered stem-group cingulates outside the group that contains modern armadillos, there had been speculation that the extant family Dasypodidae could b ...

: (14 species), armadillos (Neotropical) **Family Dasypodidae: (7 species), long-nosed armadillos (Neotropical and Nearctic) *Order Pilosa (=Dasypoda) **Suborder

Vermilingua Anteater is a common name for the four extant mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua (meaning "worm tongue") commonly known for eating ants and termites. The individual species have other names in English and other languages. Together with ...

(anteaters) ***Family Cyclopedidae: (1 species), silky anteater (Neotropical) ***Family Myrmecophagidae: (3 species), anteaters (Neotropical) **Suborder Folivora (sloths) ***Family Choloepodidae: (2 species), two-toed sloths (Neotropical) ***Family Bradypodidae: (4 species), three-toed sloths (Neotropical)

Boreoeutheria

Euarchontoglires

*Superorder Euarchonta **Order Scandentia ***Family Ptilocercidae (1 species), pen-tailed treeshrews (Southeast Asia) ***Family

Tupaiidae Tupaiidae is one of two families of treeshrews, the other family being Ptilocercidae. The family contains three living genera and 19 living species. The family name derives from ''tupai'', the Malay word for treeshrew and also for squirrel which ...

: (19 species), treeshrews (Southeast Asia) **Mirorder

Primatomorpha The Primatomorpha are a proposed mirorder of mammals containing the flying lemurs (order Dermoptera or colugos) and lemurs (Strepsirrhini, adapiformes and lemuriformes). However, notably, the haplorhini are sister to the lemurs, together formin ...

***Order Dermoptera ****Family Cynocephalidae: (2 species), flying lemurs or colugos (Southeast Asia) ***Order

Primates Primates are a diverse order of mammals. They are divided into the strepsirrhines, which include the lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, and the haplorhines, which include the tarsiers and the simians (monkeys and apes, the latter including huma ...

: lemurs, bushbabies, monkeys, apes (

cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan may refer to: Food and drink * Cosmopolitan (cocktail), also known as a "Cosmo" History * Rootless cosmopolitan, a Soviet derogatory epithet during Joseph Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign of 1949–1953 Hotels and resorts * Cosmopoli ...

)

****Family Cheirogaleidae: (32 species), dwarf lemurs (Madagascar) ****Family Lemuridae: (22 species), lemurs (Madagascar) ****Family

Lepilemuridae The sportive lemurs are the medium-sized primates that make up the family Lepilemuridae. The family consists of only one extant genus, ''Lepilemur''. They are closely related to the other lemurs and exclusively live on the island of Madagascar. ...

: (26 species), sportive lemurs (Madagascar) ****Family Indriidae: (19 species), indri and sifakas (Madagascar) ****Family Daubentoniidae: (1 species), aye-aye (Madagascar area) ****Family Lorisidae: (9 species), lorises and potto (Africa and Southeast Asia) ****Family Galagidae: (19 species), galagos (Africa) Capuchin Costa Rica

****Family

Tarsiidae Tarsiers ( ) are haplorhine primates of the family Tarsiidae, which is itself the lone extant family within the infraorder Tarsiiformes. Although the group was once more widespread, all of its species living today are found in Maritime Southeast ...

: (9 species), tarsiers (Southeast Asia) ****Family

Callitrichidae The Callitrichidae (also called Arctopitheci or Hapalidae) are a family of New World monkeys, including marmosets, tamarins, and lion tamarins. At times, this group of animals has been regarded as a subfamily, called the Callitrichinae, of the fa ...

: (41 species), marmosets and tamarins (South America) ****Family

Cebidae The Cebidae are one of the five families of New World monkeys now recognised. Extant members are the capuchin and squirrel monkeys. These species are found throughout tropical and subtropical South and Central America. Characteristics Cebid mo ...

: (14 species), New World monkeys (South America) ****Family

Cercopithecidae Old World monkey is the common English name for a family of primates known taxonomically as the Cercopithecidae (). Twenty-four genera and 138 species are recognized, making it the largest primate family. Old World monkey genera include baboons ...

: (137 species), Old World monkeys (Africa and Eurasia) ****Family

Hylobatidae Gibbons () are apes in the family Hylobatidae (). The family historically contained one genus, but now is split into four extant genera and 20 species. Gibbons live in subtropical and tropical rainforest from eastern Bangladesh to Northeast India ...

: (14 species), gibbons (Southeast Asia) ****Family

Hominidae The Hominidae (), whose members are known as the great apes or hominids (), are a taxonomic family of primates that includes eight extant species in four genera: '' Pongo'' (the Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutan); ''Gorilla'' (the ea ...

: (8 species), great apes (worldwide) *Superorder

Glires Glires (, Latin ''glīrēs'' 'dormice') is a clade (sometimes ranked as a grandorder) consisting of rodents and lagomorphs (rabbits, hares, and pikas). The hypothesis that these form a monophyletic group has been long debated based on morphologic ...

**Order Lagomorpha: pikas, rabbits, hares (Eurasia, Africa, Americas) Arctic Hare 1

***Family Leporidae: (60 species), rabbits and hares (Eurasia, Africa, Americas) ***Family Ochotonidae: (30 species), pikas (Holarctic) **Order

Rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...

ia: rodents (cosmopolitan) ***Suborder Castorimorpha ****Family

Castoridae The family Castoridae contains the two living species of beavers and their fossil relatives. A highly diverse group of rodents within this family once roamed the earth, but only a single genus is extant today, '' Castor''. Characteristics C ...

: (2 species) beavers (Holarctic) ****Family Geomyidae: (about 35 species) pocket gophers (North America) ****Family

Heteromyidae Heteromyidae is a family of rodents consisting of kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, pocket mice and spiny pocket mice. Most heteromyids live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, though species within the gen ...

: (about 59 species) kangaroo rats and kangaroo mice (North America) ***Suborder

Myomorpha The suborder Myomorpha contains 1,524 species of mouse-like rodents, nearly a quarter of all mammal species. Included are mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters, lemmings, and voles. They are grouped according to the structure of their jaws and molar ...

****Family Dipodidae: (33 species) jerboas (Africa, Eurasia, North America) ****Family Zapodidae: (11 species) jumping mice (North America, Asia) ****Family

Sicistidae Birch mice (genus ''Sicista'') are small jumping rodents that resemble mice with long, tufted tails and very long hind legs, allowing for remarkable leaps. They are the only extant members of the family Sminthidae. They are native to Eurasian for ...

: (19 species) birch mice (Eurasia) ****Family Platacanthomyidae: (3 species) spiny dormouse (Southeast Asia) ****Family Spalacidae: (37 species) zokors, root rats, blind mole rats (Africa, Eurasia) ****Family Calomyscidae: (8 species) mouse-like hamsters (Asia) ****Family Nesomyidae: (68 species) old endemic African muroids (Africa, Madagascar) ****Family Cricetidae: (about 580 species) hamsters, voles, and New World rats and mice (Holarctic, South America) ****Family

Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are the largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 1,383 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. The name Muridae come ...

: (about 1,383 species) Old World rats and mice and gerbils (Africa, Eurasia, Australia) ***Suborder

Anomaluromorpha Anomaluromorpha is a clade that unites the anomalures, springhares, and zenkerella. It has alternately been designated as either a suborder or infraorder. Most recently, recognized it as one of five suborders of rodents. Characteristics Th ...

****Family Anomaluridae: (6 species) scaly-tailed flying squirrels (Africa) ****Family Pedetidae: (2 species) springhares or springhaas (Africa) ***Suborder Hystricomorpha ****Family Ctenodactylidae: (5 species) gundis (Africa, Asia) ****Family

Diatomyidae Diatomyidae is a family of hystricomorph rodents. It is represented by a single living species, ''Laonastes aenigmamus,'' native to Laos in Southeast Asia. Fossil species are known from the Oligocene and Miocene of Asia and eastern Europe. "Laz ...

: (1 species) Laotian rock rat (Southeast Asia) ****Family Hystricidae: (11 Species) Old World porcupines (Africa, Asia) ****Family Bathyergidae: (about 21 species) African mole-rats (Africa) ****Family Petromuridae: (1 species) rock dassies (Africa) ****Family Thryonomyidae: (2 species) cane rats (Africa) ****Family Erethizontidae: (19 species) New World porcupines (New World) ****Family

Chinchillidae The family Chinchillidae is in the order Rodentia and consists of the chinchillas, the viscachas, and their fossil relatives. This family is restricted to southern and western South America, mostly living in mountainous regions of the Andes but ...

: (3 species) chinchillas and viscachas (South America) ****Family Dinomyidae: (1 species) pacarana (South America) ****Family Caviidae: (18 species) cavies and capybara (South America) ****Family Dasyproctidae: (13 species) agoutis and acouchis (South America) ****Family Cuniculidae: (about 3 species) paca (South America) ****Family

Ctenomyidae A tuco-tuco is a neotropical rodent in the family Ctenomyidae.Parada, A., G. D’Elia, C.J. Bidau, and E.P. Lessa. 2011. Species Groups and the Evolutionary Diversification of Tuco-Tucos, genus ''Ctenomys'' (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae). ''Journal of M ...

: (about 60 species) tuco-tucos (South America) ****Family Octodontidae: (14 species) degus (South America) ****Family Abrocomidae: (9 species) chinchilla-rats (South America) ****Family Echimyidae: spiny rats (South America) ****Family Capromyidae: (10 species) hutias (South America) ****Family Heptaxodontidae: giant Hutias (recently extinct) ****Family Myocastoridae: (57 species) nutrias (South America) ***Suborder

Sciuromorpha Sciuromorpha ("squirrel-like") is a rodent clade that includes several different rodent families. It includes all members of the Sciuridae (the squirrel family) as well as the mountain beaver species. Traditionally, the term has been defined on ...

****Family

Aplodontiidae The family Aplodontiidae also known as Aplodontidae, Haplodontiidae or Haploodontini is traditionally classified as the sole extant family of the suborder Protrogomorpha. It may be the sister family of the Sciuridae. There are fossils from the ...

: (1 species) mountain beaver (western North America) ****Family Sciuridae: (about 285 species) squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots (cosmopolitan except Australia) ****Family Gliridae: (29 species) dormice (Africa, Eurasia)

Laurasiatheria

*Order Eulipotyphla **Family Solenodontidae: (2 species) solenodons (Cuba, Hispaniola) **Family Nesophontidae: nesophontes (West Indies shrews) ecently extinct**Family Soricidae: (385 species) shrews (Eurasia, Africa, North America to northern South America) **Family Talpidae: (59 species) moles, shrew-moles, desmans (Eurasia, North America) **Family

Erinaceidae Erinaceidae is a family in the order Eulipotyphla, consisting of the hedgehogs and moonrats. Until recently, it was assigned to the order Erinaceomorpha, which has been subsumed with the paraphyletic Soricomorpha into Eulipotyphla. Eulipotyphla ...

: (26 species)hedgehogs, gymnures (Eurasia, Africa) **Family

Galericidae Gymnures, also called hairy hedgehogs or moonrats, are mammals belonging to the subfamily Galericinae, in the family Erinaceidae and the order Eulipotyphla. Gymnures resemble rats but are not closely related as they are not rodents; they are ...

: (8 species) moonrats (southeast Asia) *Grandorder Chiroptera **Order Chiroptera: bats ***Suborder Yinpterochiroptera ****Family Pteropodidae: (about 197 species) flying foxes (Africa, Eurasia, Australia) ****Family

Hipposideridae The Hipposideridae are a family of bats commonly known as the Old World leaf-nosed bats. While it has often been seen as a subfamily, Hipposiderinae, of the family Rhinolophidae, it is now more generally classified as its own family.Simmons, 20 ...

: (84 species) trident bats, leaf-nosed bats ****Family Rhinolophidae: (106 species) horseshoe bats (Old World) ****Family Rhinopomatidae: (6 species) mouse-tailed bats (Africa, Southeast Asia) ****Family Craseonycteridae: (1 species) Kitti's hog-nosed bat (Thailand) ****Family

Megadermatidae Megadermatidae, or false vampire bats, are a family of bats found from central Africa, eastwards through southern Asia, and into Australia. They are relatively large bats, ranging from 6.5 cm to 14 cm in head-body length. They have lar ...

: (6 species) false vampire bats (Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia) ***Suborder Yangochiroptera ****Family Emballonuridae: (54 species) sac-winged bats (southern continents) ****Family Nycteridae: (about 15 species) slit-faced bats (Africa, Southeast Asia) ****Family

Mystacinidae __NOTOC__ Mystacinidae is a family of unusual bats, the New Zealand short-tailed bats. There is one living genus, '' Mystacina'', with two species, one of which could have possibly become extinct in the 1960s. They are medium-sized bats, about in ...

: (about 2 species) short-tailed bats (New Zealand) ****Family

Thyropteridae Disk-winged bats are a small group of bats of the family Thyropteridae and genus Thyroptera. They are found in Central and South America, usually in moist tropical rain forests. It is a very small family, consisting of a single genus with five ex ...

: (5 species) sucker-footed bats (South America) ****Family

Furipteridae Furipteridae is family of bats, allying two genera of single species, '' Amorphochilus schnablii'' (smoky bat) and the type '' Furipterus horrens'' (thumbless bat). They are found in Central and South America and are closely related to the bats ...

: (2 species) smoky bats (South America) ****Family Noctilionidae: (2 species) fishing bats (South America) ****Family

Mormoopidae The family Mormoopidae contains bats known generally as mustached bats, ghost-faced bats, and naked-backed bats. They are found in the Americas from the Southwestern United States to Southeastern Brazil. They are distinguished by the presence ...

: (about 11 species) leaf-chinned bats (South America) ****Family Phyllostomidae: (192 species) leaf-nosed bats (South America) ****Family Myzopodidae: (2 species) sucker-footed bats (Madagascar) ****Family

Natalidae The family Natalidae, or funnel-eared bats, are found from Mexico to Brazil and the Caribbean islands. The family has three genera, '' Chilonatalus'', '' Natalus'' and '' Nyctiellus''. They are slender bats with unusually long tails and, as th ...

: (10 species) funnel-eared bats (South America) ****Family Molossidae: (about 110 species) free-tailed bats (cosmopolitan) ****Family

Miniopteridae ''Miniopterus'', known as the bent-winged or long winged bats, is the sole genus of the family Miniopteridae. They are small flying insectivorous mammals, micro-bats of the order Chiroptera, with wings over twice the length of the body. The genus ...

: (about 40 species) long-fingered bats (Africa, Eurasia, Australia) ****Family

Cistugidae ''Cistugo'' is a genus of bats from southern Africa. The two species have historically been included in the genus ''Myotis'' (family Vespertilionidae), but molecular studies show that the genus is distinct from all other Vespertilionidae, and in ...

: (2 species) wing-gland bats (Southern Africa) ****Family

Vespertilionidae Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat familie ...

: (over 300 species) vesper bats (cosmopolitan) *Grandorder

Ferae Ferae ( , , "wild beasts") is a mirorder of placental mammalsMalcolm C. McKenna, Susan K. Bell: ''Classification of Mammals: Above the Species Level'' in Columbia University Press, New York (1997), 631 Seiten. that groups together clades Pan-Ca ...

**Order Pholidota ***Family

Manidae Manidae is the only extant family of pangolins from superfamily Manoidea. This family comprises three genera ('' Manis'' from subfamily Maninae, ''Phataginus'' from subfamily Phatagininae, and ''Smutsia'' from subfamily Smutsiinae), as well as ex ...

: (about 8 species) pangolins, scaly anteaters (Africa, South Asia) **Order

Carnivora Carnivora is a Clade, monophyletic order of Placentalia, placental mammals consisting of the most recent common ancestor of all felidae, cat-like and canidae, dog-like animals, and all descendants of that ancestor. Members of this group are f ...

: carnivorans (cosmopolitan) ***Suborder Feliformia ****Family Nandiniidae: (4 species) African palm civet (Central Africa) ****Family

Prionodontidae The Asiatic linsang (''Prionodon'') is a genus comprising two species native to Southeast Asia: the banded linsang (''Prionodon linsang'') and the spotted linsang (''Prionodon pardicolor''). ''Prionodon'' is considered a sister taxon of the Felid ...

: (2 species) Asiatic linsangs (Southeast Asia) ****Family

Felidae Felidae () is the family of mammals in the order Carnivora colloquially referred to as cats, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a felid (). The term "cat" refers both to felids in general and specifically to the ...

: (41 species) cats (cosmopolitan except Australia) ****Family Viverridae: (33 species) civets, Asiatic palm civets (Africa, Southern Europe, Southeast Asia) ****Family Herpestidae: (34 species) mongooses (Africa, Asia, Southern Europe) ****Family Eupleridae: (10 species) Malagasy carnivorans (Madagascar) ****Family Hyaenidae: (4 species) hyaenas, aardwolf (Africa) ***Suborder

Caniformia Caniformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "dog-like" carnivorans. They include dogs (wolves, foxes, etc.), bears, raccoons, and mustelids. The Pinnipedia (seals, walruses and sea lions) are also assigned to this group. ...

****Family

Canidae Canidae (; from Latin, ''canis'', "dog") is a biological family of dog-like carnivorans, colloquially referred to as dogs, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a canid (). There are three subfamilies found within th ...

: (38 species) dogs (cosmopolitan) ****Family Ursidae: (8 species) bears (Europe, Asia, New World) ****Family Otariidae: (15 species) eared seals (cosmopolitan except North Atlantic) ****Family Odobenidae: (1 species) walrus (Northern North American, Northern Europe, Northern Asia) ****Family Phocidae: (18 species) true seals (cosmopolitan) ****Family

Ailuridae Ailuridae is a family in the mammal order Carnivora. The family consists of the red panda (the sole living representative) and its extinct relatives. Georges Cuvier first described ''Ailurus'' as belonging to the raccoon family in 1825; this cl ...

: (1 species) red panda (South-Central Asia) ****Family

Mephitidae Mephitidae is a family of mammals comprising the skunks and stink badgers. They are noted for the great development of their anal scent glands, which they use to deter predators. Skunks were formerly classified as a subfamily of the Mustelidae ...

: (12 species) skunks (Southeast Asia, New World) ****Family Mustelidae: (about 69 species) weasels and relatives (cosmopolitan except Australia) ****Family

Procyonidae Procyonidae is a New World family of the order Carnivora. It comprises the raccoons, ringtails, cacomistles, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, and olinguitos. Procyonids inhabit a wide range of environments and are generally omnivorous. Character ...

: (14 species) ringtails, olingos, kinkajou, raccoons, coatis (New World) *Grandorder

Ungulata Ungulates ( ) are members of the diverse clade Ungulata which primarily consists of large mammals with hooves. These include odd-toed ungulates such as horses, rhinoceroses, and tapirs; and even-toed ungulates such as cattle, pigs, giraffes, ...

**Order Perissodactyla: odd-toed ungulates ***Family Equidae: (13 species) horses, zebras, donkeys (Africa, West and Central Asia) ***Family

Tapiridae Tapirs ( ) are large, herbivorous mammals belonging to the family Tapiridae. They are similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile nose trunk. Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South and Central America, with one species inhabi ...

: (3 species) tapirs (Central and South America, Southeast Asia) ***Family

Rhinocerotidae A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species ...

: (5 species) rhinoceroses (Africa, Southeast Asia) **Order Artiodactyla: even-toed ungulates (now includes

Cetacea Cetacea (; , ) is an infraorder of aquatic mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Key characteristics are their fully aquatic lifestyle, streamlined body shape, often large size and exclusively carnivorous diet. They propel them ...

ns) ***Suborder

Suiformes Suina (also known as Suiformes) is a suborder of omnivorous, non-ruminant artiodactyl mammals that includes the domestic pig and peccaries. A member of this clade is known as a suine. Suina includes the family Suidae, termed suids, known in ...

****Family

Suidae Suidae is a family of artiodactyl mammals which are commonly called pigs, hogs or swine. In addition to numerous fossil species, 18 extant species are currently recognized (or 19 counting domestic pigs and wild boars separately), classified into ...

: (18 species) pigs (Africa, Eurasia) Sow with piglet

****Family Tayassuidae: (about 3 species) peccaries (New World) ***Suborder Tylopoda ****Family

Camelidae Camelids are members of the biological family Camelidae, the only currently living family in the suborder Tylopoda. The seven extant members of this group are: dromedary camels, Bactrian camels, wild Bactrian camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, ...

: (7 species) camels (South America, Asia) ***Suborder

Ruminantia Ruminants ( suborder Ruminantia) are hoofed herbivorous grazing or browsing mammals that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, principally through microbial actions. The ...

****Family Tragulidae: (10 species) mouse-deer (Africa, Asia) ****Family

Antilocapridae The Antilocapridae are a family of artiodactyls endemic to North America. Their closest extant relatives are the giraffids with which they comprise the superfamily Giraffoidea. Only one species, the pronghorn (''Antilocapra americana''), is li ...

: (1 species) pronghorn (North America) ****Family

Giraffidae The Giraffidae are a family of ruminant artiodactyl mammals that share a common ancestor with deer and bovids. This family, once a diverse group spread throughout Eurasia and Africa, presently comprises only two extant genera, the giraffe (one or ...

: (2-9 species) giraffe and okapi (Africa) Giraffen

****Family Cervidae: (26 species) deer (Holarctic, South America) ****Family

Moschidae Moschidae is a family of pecoran even-toed ungulates, containing the musk deer (''Moschus'') and its extinct relatives. They are characterized by long 'saber teeth' instead of horns, antlers or ossicones, modest size (''Moschus'' only reaches ; ...

: (7 species) musk deer (Asia) Muntjac deer

****Family Bovidae: (143 species) cattle, antelope, sheep, etc. (Africa, Holarctic) Pair of Icelandic Sheep

***Suborder Whippomorpha ****Family

Hippopotamidae Hippopotamidae is a family of stout, naked-skinned, and semiaquatic artiodactyl mammals, possessing three-chambered stomachs and walking on four toes on each foot. While they resemble pigs physiologically, their closest living relatives are t ...

: (2 species) hippos (Africa) ****Infraorder

*****Parvorder

Mysticeti Baleen whales (systematic name Mysticeti), also known as whalebone whales, are a parvorder of carnivorous marine mammals of the infraorder Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises) which use keratinaceous baleen plates (or "whalebone") in their ...

******Family

Balaenopteridae Rorquals () are the largest group of baleen whales, which comprise the family Balaenopteridae, containing ten extant species in three genera. They include the largest animal that has ever lived, the blue whale, which can reach , and the fin wha ...

: (10 species) rorquals and grey whales (cosmopolitan) ******Family

Balaenidae Balaenidae () is a family of whales of the parvorder Mysticeti that contains two living genera: the right whales (genus ''Eubalaena''), and in a separate genus, the closely related bowhead whale (genus ''Balaena''). Evolutionary history Bale ...

: (4 species) right and bowhead whales (polar and temperate waters) ******Family

Eschrichtiidae Eschrichtiidae or the gray whales is a family of baleen whale (Parvorder Mysticeti) with a single extant species, the gray whale (''Eschrichtius robustus''), as well as three described fossil genera: '' Archaeschrichtius'' and ''Eschrichtioide ...

: (1 species) gray whale (North Pacific and North Atlantic) ******Family

Neobalaenidae Neobalaenidae is a family of baleen whales (suborder Mysticeti) including the extant pygmy right whale. Although traditionally considered related to balaenids, a recent phylogenetic study by Fordyce and Marx (2013) recovered the living pygmy ri ...

: (1 species) pygmy right whales (southern hemisphere) *****Parvorder

Odontoceti The toothed whales (also called odontocetes, systematic name Odontoceti) are a parvorder of cetaceans that includes dolphins, porpoises, and all other whales possessing teeth, such as the beaked whales and sperm whales. Seventy-three species of ...

******Family Delphinidae: (about 37 species) dolphins (cosmopolitan) ******Family Monodontidae: (2 species) beluga and narwhal (Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific) ******Family

Phocoenidae Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals, all of which are classified under the family Phocoenidae, parvorder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Although similar in appearance to dolphins, they are more closely related to narwhals an ...

: (8 species) porpoises (cosmopolitan) ******Family Physeteridae: (3 species) sperm whales (cosmopolitan) ******Family

Kogiidae Kogiidae is a family comprising at least two extant species of Cetacea, the Pygmy sperm whale, pygmy (''Kogia breviceps)'' and dwarf sperm whale, dwarf (''K. sima)'' sperm whales. As their common names suggest, they somewhat resemble sperm whales ...

: (2 species) dwarf sperm whales (cosmopolitan) ******Family

Platanistidae Platanistidae is a family of river dolphins containing the extant Ganges river dolphin and Indus river dolphin (both in the genus '' Platanista'') but also extinct relatives from marine deposits in the Neogene. The Amazon river dolphin, Yangtze ...

: (2 species) South Asian river dolphin (Southern Asia) ******Family

Iniidae Iniidae is a family of river dolphins containing one living genus, ''Inia'', and four extinct genera. The extant genus inhabits the river basins of South America, but the family formerly had a wider presence across the Atlantic Ocean. Iniidae a ...

: (1-4 species) Amazon River dolphin (South America) ******Family Pontoporiidae: (1 species) La Plata River dolphin (South America) ******Family

Lipotidae Lipotidae is a family of river dolphins containing the possibly extinct baiji of China and the fossil genus ''Parapontoporia'' from the Late Miocene and Pliocene of the Pacific coast of North America. The genus '' Prolipotes'', which is based on ...

: baiji ******Family Ziphiidae: (24 species) beaked whales (cosmopolitan)

Standardized textbook classification

A somewhat standardized classification system has been adopted by most current

mammalogy In zoology, mammalogy is the study of mammals – a class of vertebrates with characteristics such as homeothermic metabolism, fur, four-chambered hearts, and complex nervous system In biology, the nervous system is the highly complex part o ...

classroom textbooks. The following taxonomy of extant and recently extinct mammals is taken from the 6th edition of Vaughan's ''Mammalogy''. This approach emphasizes an initial split between egg-laying prototherians and live-bearing therians. The therians are further divided into the marsupial Metatheria and the "placental" Eutheria. No attempt is made in this classification to further distinguish among the orders within these subclasses and infraclasses. This system also makes no note of the position of entirely fossil groups. In this and later taxonomies, families are merely listed under the order to which they belong. More detailed relationships among families is presented in the article of each order.

Subclass Prototheria

*Order Monotremata **Family Tachyglossidae (echidnas) **Family Ornithorhynchidae (platypuses)

Subclass
Theria Theria (; Greek: , wild beast) is a subclass of mammals amongst the Theriiformes. Theria includes the eutherians (including the placental mammals) and the metatherians (including the marsupials) but excludes the egg-laying monotremes. Ch ...

*Infraclass

Metatheria Metatheria is a mammalian clade that includes all mammals more closely related to marsupials than to placentals. First proposed by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1880, it is a more inclusive group than the marsupials; it contains all marsupials as well ...

(marsupials and their nearest ancestors) **Order Didelphimorphia ***Family Didelphidae (opossums, etc.) **Order

Paucituberculata Paucituberculata is an order of South American marsupials. Although currently represented only by the seven living species of shrew opossums, this order was formerly much more diverse, with more than 60 extinct species named from the fossil reco ...

***Family Caenolestidae (shrew opossums) **Order Microbiotheria ***Family Microbiotheriidae (monitos del monte) **Order

Dasyuromorphia Dasyuromorphia (, meaning "hairy tail" in Greek) is an order comprising most of the Australian carnivorous marsupials, including quolls, dunnarts, the numbat, the Tasmanian devil, and the thylacine. In Australia, the exceptions include the omn ...

(most carnivorous marsupials) ***Family

Thylacinidae Thylacinidae is an extinct family of carnivorous, superficially dog-like marsupials from the order Dasyuromorphia. The only species to survive into modern times was the thylacine (''Thylacinus cynocephalus''), which became extinct in 1936. The ...

(Tasmanian tigers) ***Family

Myrmecobiidae The numbat (''Myrmecobius fasciatus''), also known as the noombat or walpurti, is an insectivorous marsupial. It is diurnal and its diet consists almost exclusively of termites. The species was once widespread across southern Australia, but ...

(numbats) ***Family Dasyuridae (Tasmanian devils, quolls, dunnarts, planigale, etc.) **Order

Peramelemorphia The Order (biology), order Peramelemorphia includes the bandicoots and bilby, bilbies; it equates approximately to the mainstream of marsupial omnivores. All members of the order are endemic to the twin land masses of Australia-New Guinea and mo ...

(bandicoots, bilbies, etc.) ***Family

Peramelidae The marsupial family Peramelidae contains all of the extant bandicoots. They are found throughout Australia and New Guinea, with at least some species living in every available habitat, from rainforest to desert. Four fossil peramelids are descri ...

(bandicoots, echymiperas) ***Family †

Chaeropodidae ''Chaeropus'', known as the pig-footed bandicoots, is a genus of small mammals that became extinct during the 20th century. They were unique marsupials, of the order Peramelemorphia (bandicoots and bilbies), with unusually thin legs, yet were abl ...

(pig-footed bandicoot) **Order

Notoryctemorphia Notoryctidae is a family of mammals, allying several extant and fossil species of Australia. The group appear to have diverged from other marsupials at an early stage and are highly specialised to foraging through loose sand; the unusual feature ...

(marsupial moles) ***Family

Notoryctidae Notoryctidae is a family of mammals, allying several extant and fossil species of Australia. The group appear to have diverged from other marsupials at an early stage and are highly specialised to foraging through loose sand; the unusual feature ...

**Order Diprotodontia ***Family

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 ...

(koalas) ***Family Vombatidae (wombats) ***Family Phalangeridae (brushtail possums and cuscuses) ***Family

Potoroidae Potoroidae is a family of marsupials, small Australian animals known as bettongs, potoroos, and rat-kangaroos. All are rabbit-sized, brown, jumping marsupials and resemble a large rodent or a very small wallaby. Taxonomy The potoroids are sm ...

(bettongs, potoroos and rat kangaroos) ***Family Macropodidae (kangaroos, wallabies, etc.) ***Family Burramyidae (pygmy possums) ***Family

Pseudocheiridae Pseudocheiridae is a family of arboreal marsupials containing 17 extant species of ringtailed possums and close relatives. They are found in forested areas and shrublands throughout Australia and New Guinea. Characteristics Physically, they app ...

(ringtailed possums, etc.) ***Family Petauridae ( striped possum, Leadbeater's possum,

yellow-bellied glider The yellow-bellied glider (''Petaurus australis''), also known as the fluffy glider, is an arboreal and nocturnal gliding possum that lives in native eucalypt forests in eastern Australia, from northern Queensland south to Victoria. Habitat ...

, sugar glider, mahogany glider and squirrel glider) ***Family

Tarsipedidae The honey possum or noolbenger (''Tarsipes rostratus''), is a tiny species of marsupial that feeds on the nectar and pollen of a diverse range of flowering plants. Found in southwest Australia, it is an important pollinator for such plants as '' ...

(honey possum) ***Family

Acrobatidae The Acrobatidae are a small family of flying and gliding animals, gliding marsupials containing two genera, each with a single species, the feathertail glider (''Acrobates pygmaeus'') from Australia and feather-tailed possum (''Distoechurus penn ...

(

feathertail glider The feathertail glider (''Acrobates pygmaeus''), also known as the pygmy gliding possum, pygmy glider, pygmy phalanger, flying phalanger and flying mouse, is a species of marsupial native to eastern Australia. It is the world's smallest gliding ...

and

feather-tailed possum The feather-tailed possum (''Distoechurus pennatus'') is a species of marsupial in the family Acrobatidae. It is found in West Papua and Papua New Guinea. It is not to be confused with the feathertail glider, the only other species in the famil ...

) ***Family

Hypsiprymnodontidae The Hypsiprymnodontidae are a family of macropods, one of two families containing animals commonly referred to as rat-kangaroos. The single known extant genus and species in this family, the musky rat-kangaroo, ''Hypsiprymnodon moschatus'', oc ...

(musky rat kangaroo) *Infraclass Eutheria **Order

***Family Tenrecidae (tenrecs) ***Family Chrysochloridae (golden moles) **Order Macroscelidea ***Family Macroscelididae (elephant-shrews **Order Tubulidentata ***Family

(aardvark) **Order

***Family Elephantidae (elephants) **Order Sirenia ***Family

(dugongs, sea cows) ***Family Trichechidae (manatees) **Order Hyracoidea ***Family

(hyraxes) **Order Pilosa ***Family Bradypodidae (three-toed tree sloths) ***Family

Megalonychidae Megalonychidae is an extinct family of sloths including the extinct ''Megalonyx''. Megalonychids first appeared in the early Oligocene, about 35 million years (Ma) ago, in southern Argentina (Patagonia). There is actually one possible find dating ...

(two-toed tree sloths) ***Family Myrmecophagidae (tamanduas and giant anteater) ***Family Cyclopedidae (silky anteater) **Order Cingulata ***Family Dasypodidae (armadillos) **Order Dermoptera ***Family Cynocephalidae (colugos) **Order Scandentia ***Family

(tree shrews) ***Family Ptilocercidae (pen-tailed treeshrew Noctilio albiventris

**Order

***Family Cheirogaleidae (dwarf lemurs, mouse lemurs) ***Family Lemuridae (lemurs) ***Family

(sportive lemurs) ***Family Indriidae (wooly lemurs, sifakas) ***Family Daubentoniidae (aye-aye) ***Family Lorisidae (lorises) ***Family Galagidae (bushbabies, galagos) ***Family

(tarsiers) ***Family

(marmosets, tamarins, capuchins, squirrel monkeys) ***Family

Aotidae Night monkeys, also known as owl monkeys or douroucoulis (), are nocturnal New World monkeys of the genus ''Aotus'', the only member of the family Aotidae (). The genus comprises eleven species which are found across Panama and much of South Ame ...

(night monkeys) ***Family Pitheciidae (titis, uacaris, sakis) ***Family

Atelidae The Atelidae are one of the five families of New World monkeys now recognised. It was formerly included in the family Cebidae. Atelids are generally larger monkeys; the family includes the howler, spider, woolly, and woolly spider monkeys (t ...

(howlers, spider monkeys, wooly monkeys) ***Family

(Old World monkeys) ***Family

(gibbons) ***Family

(apes, human) **Order Rodentia ***Family

(sewellel or mountain beaver) ***Family Sciuridae (squirrels) ***Family Gliridae (dormice) ***Family

(beavers) ***Family

(kangaroo rats, pocket mice) ***Family Geomyidae (pocket gophers) ***Family Dipodidae (jerboas, birch mice, jumping mice) ***Family Platacanthomyidae (tree mice) ***Family Spalacidae (zokors, bamboo rats, mole rats) ***Family Calomyscidae (calomyscuses) ***Family Nesomyidae (pouched rats and mice, climbing and fat mice, etc.) ***Family Cricetidae (voles, hamsters, New World rats and mice ***Family

(rats, mice) ***Family Anomaluridae (scaily-tailed flying squirrels) ***Family Pedetidae (springhaas, springhares) ***Family Ctenodactylidae (gundis) ***Family

(kha-nyous or Laotian rock rat) ***Family Bathyergidae (mole-rats) ***Family Hystricidae (African and Asian porcupines) ***Family Petromuridae (dassie rat) ***Family Thryonomyidae (can rats) ***Family Erethizontidae (bristle-spined rat and New World porcupines) ***Family

(chinchillas, vizcachas) ***Family Dinomyidae (pacarana) ***Family Caviidae (cuis, guinea-pigs, cavies, maras, capybaras) ***Family Dasyproctidae (agoutis, acouchis) ***Family Cuniculidae (pacas) ***Family

(tuco-tucos) ***Family Octodontidae (degus, rock rats, vizcacha-rats) ***Family Abrocomidae (chinchilla rats) ***Family Echimyidae (spiny rats, tree rats, hutias, & coypu) ***Family † Heptaxodontidae (giant hutias and key mice) **Order Lagomorpha ***Family Ochotonidae (pikas) ***Family †Prolagidae (Sardinian pika) ***Family Leporidae (rabbits) **Order Eulipotyphla ***Family

(hedgehogs, gymnures) ***Family † Nesophontidae (nesophontes) ***Family Solenodontidae (solenodons, alamiquis) ***Family Soricidae (shrews) ***Family Talpidae (moles, desmans) **Order Chiroptera ***Family Pteropodidae (Old World fruit bats, flying foxes) ***Family Rhinopomatidae (mouse-tailed bats) ***Family Craseonycteridae (hog-nosed or bumblebee bat) ***Family

(false vampire bats) ***Family Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats) ***Family Emballonuridae (sac-winged bats) ***Family Nycteridae (slit-faced bats) ***Family Myzopodidae (sucker-footed bats) ***Family

(New Zealand short-tailed bats) ***Family

(disk-winged bats) ***Family

(smokey bat and thumbless bat) ***Family Noctilionidae (bulldog bats) ***Family

(mustached and ghost-faced bats) ***Family Phyllostomidae (New World leaf-nosed bats) ***Family

(funnel-eared bats) ***Family Molossidae (free-tailed bats) ***Family

(evening bats, common bats) ***Family

(bent-winged or long-fingered bats) **Order Pholidota ***Family

(pangolins) **Order

***Family

(cats) ***Family Viverridae (civets, genets) ***Family Eupleridae (falanouc, fossa, Madagascaran mongooses) ***Family Nandiniidae (African palm civet) ***Family Herpestidae (mongooses) ***Family Hyaenidae (hyaenas, aardwolf) ***Family

(wolves, foxes, jackals) ***Family Ursidae (bears, giant panda) ***Family Odobenidae (walrus) ***Family Otariidae (eared seals, fur seals, sea lions) ***Family Phocidae (earless seals) ***Family Mustelidae (weasels, badgers, otters) ***Family

(raccoons, ringtails, coatis) ***Family

(red panda) **Order Perissodactyla ***Family Equidae (horses, asses, zebras) ***Family

(tapirs) ***Family

(rhinoceroses) **Order Artiodactyla ***Family

(hogs, pigs) ***Family Tayassuidae (peccaries) ***Family

(hippopotamuses) ***Family

(camels, vicunas, guanacos, llamas) ***Family Tragulidae (chevrotains and mouse deer) ***Family

(musk deer) ***Family Cervidae (deer) ***Family

(pronghorn) ***Family

(giraffe and okapi) ***Family Bovidae (antelope, bison, cattle, duikers, goats, sheep, etc.) **Order

***Family

(right whales) ***Family

(rorquals) ***Family

(gray whales ***Family Cetotheriidae (pygmy right whale) ***Family Delphinidae (ocean dolphins) ***Family Monodontidae (narwhal and beluga) ***Family

(porpoises) ***Family Physeteridae (sperm whales) ***Family

(Ganges and Indus river dolphins) ***Family

(baiji, franciscana, and Amazon river dolphins) ***Family Ziphiidae (beaked whales)

McKenna/Bell classification

In 1997, the classification of mammals was revised by Malcolm C. McKenna and Susan K. Bell. The ''Classification of Mammals Above the species level'', here referred to as the "McKenna/Bell classification", is a comprehensive work on the systematics, relationships, and occurrences of all mammal taxa, living and extinct, down through the rank of genus. The authors worked together as paleontologists at the American Museum of Natural History, New York. McKenna inherited the project from Simpson and, with Bell, constructed a completely updated hierarchical system, covering living and extinct taxa that reflects the historical genealogy of Mammalia. The McKenna/Bell hierarchical listing of all of the terms used for mammal groups above the species includes extinct mammals as well as modern groups, and introduces some fine distinctions such as legion (taxonomy), legions and sublegions and ranks which fall between classes and orders that are likely to be glossed over by the layman. Click on the highlighted link for
table comparing the traditional and the new McKenna/Bell classifications of mammals
Extinct groups are represented by †.

Subclass Prototheria

(monotremes) *Order Platypoda: platypuses **Family Ornithorhynchidae: platypuses *Order Tachyglossa: echidnas (spiny anteaters) **Family Tachyglossidae: echidnas

Subclass Theriiformes

*Infraclass †Allotheria **Order †Multituberculata: multituberculates ***Family †Plagiaulacidae ***Family †Bolodontidae ***Family †Hahnodontidae ***Family †Albionbaataridae ***Family †Arginbaataridae ***Family †Kogaionidae ***Suborder †Cimolodonta ****Family †Sloanbaataridae **** Superfamily †Ptilodontoidea *****Family †Cimolodontidae *****Family †Ptilodontidae ****Superfamily †Taeniolabidoidea *****Family †Cimolomyidae *****Family †Eucosmodontidae *****Family †Taeniolabididae ***Suborder †Gondwanatheria ****Family †Ferugliotheriidae ****Family †Sudamericidae *Infraclass †Triconodonta **Family †Austrotriconodontidae **Family †Amphilestidae **Family †Triconodontidae *Infraclass Holotheria **Family †Chronoperatidae **Superlegion †Kuehneotheria ***Family †Kuehneotheriidae ***Family †Woutersiidae **Superlegion Trechnotheria ***Legion †Symmetrodonta ****Family †Shuotheriidae ****Order †Amphidontoidea *****Family †Amphidontidae ****Order †Spalacotherioidea *****Family †Tinodontidae *****Family †Spalacotheriidae *****Family †Barbereniidae ***Legion Cladotheria ****Sublegion †Dryolestoidea *****Order †Dryolestida ******Family †Dryolestidae ******Family †Paurodontidae ******Family †Donodontidae ******Family †Mesungulatidae ******Family †Reigitheriidae ******Family †Brandoniidae *****Order †Amphitheriida ******Family †Amphitheriidae ****Sublegion Zatheria *****Family †Arguitheriidae *****Family †Arguimuridae *****Family †Vincelestidae *****Infralegion †Peramura ******Family †Peramuridae *****Infralegion Tribosphenida ******Family †Necrolestidae ******Supercohort †Aegialodontia *******Family †Aegialodontidae ******Supercohort

Theria Theria (; Greek: , wild beast) is a subclass of mammals amongst the Theriiformes. Theria includes the eutherians (including the placental mammals) and the metatherians (including the marsupials) but excludes the egg-laying monotremes. Ch ...

: therian mammals *******Family †Pappotheriidae *******Family †Holoclemensiidae *******Family †Kermackiidae *******Family †Endotheriidae *******Family †Picopsidae *******Family †Potamotelsidae *******Family †Plicatodontidae *******Order †Deltatheroida ********Family †Deltatheridiidae ********Family †Deltatheroididae *******Order †Asiadelphia ********Family †Asiatheriidae *******Cohort Marsupialia: marsupials ********Family †Yingabalanaridae ********Suborder †Archimetatheria *********Family †Stagodontidae *********Family †Pediomyidae ********Magnorder Australidelphia *********Superorder Microbiotheria **********Family Microbiotheriidae: monito del monte *********Superorder Eometatheria **********Order †Yalkaparidontia ***********Family †Yalkaparidontidae **********Order

: marsupial moles ***********Family

: marsupial moles **********Grandorder

: marsupial carnivores ***********Family †

: recently extinct Tasmanian tiger and relatives ***********Family Dasyuridae: Tasmanian devil, quolls, numbat, etc. **********Grandorder Syndactyli: syndactylous marsupials ***********Order Peramelia: bandicoots ************Family

************Family Peroryctidae ***********Order Diprotodontia ************Family †Palorchestidae ************Family †Wynardiidae ************Family †Thylacoleonidae ************Family

: honey possum ************Superfamily Vombatoidea *************Family †Ilariidae *************Family †Diprotodontidae *************Family Vombatidae: wombats ************Superfamily Phalangeroidea *************Family Phalangeridae: phalangers *************Family Burramyidae: pygmy possums *************Family Macropodidae: rat kangaroos, kangaroos and wallabies *************Family Petauridae: gliders *************Family †Ektopodontidae *************Family

: koala *************Family †Pilkipildridae *************Family †Miralinidae *************Family

: feather-tail glider, pen-tailed phalanger ********Magnorder Ameridelphia *********Order Didelphimorphia: opossums **********Family Didelphidae: opossums **********Family †Sparassocynidae *********Order

**********Superfamily Caenolestoidea ***********Family †Sternbergiidae ***********Family Caenolestidae: rat or shrew opossums ***********Family †Paleothentidae ***********Family †Abderitidae **********Superfamily †Polydolopoidea ***********Family †Sillustaniidae ***********Family †Polydolopidae ***********Family †Prepidolopidae ***********Family †Bonapartheriidae **********Superfamily †Argyrolagoidea ***********Family †Argyrolagidae ***********Family †Patagoniidae ***********Family †Groeberiidae **********Superfamily †Caroloameghinioidea ***********Family †Glasbiidae ***********Family †Caroloameghiniidae *********Order †Sparassodonta **********Family †Mayulestidae **********Family †Hondadelphidae **********Family †Borhyaenidae *******Cohort Placentalia: placentals ********Order †Bibymalagasia ********Magnorder Xenarthra: edentates *********Order Cingulata: armadillos and relatives **********Family †Protobradidae **********Superfamily Dasypodoidea ***********Family Dasypodidae: armadillos ***********Family †Peltephilidae **********Superfamily †Glyptodontoidea ***********Family †Pampatheriidae ***********Family †Palaeopeltidae ***********Family †Glyptodontidae: glyptodonts *********Order Pilosa: anteaters, sloths, and relatives **********Family †Entelopidae **********Suborder

***********Family Myrmecophagidae: giant anteaters and relatives ***********Family Cyclopedidae: pygmy anteater **********Suborder Phyllophaga ***********Family †Rathymotheriidae ***********Infraorder †Mylodonta ************Superfamily †Mylodontoidea *************Family †Scelidotheriidae *************Family †Mylodontidae ************Superfamily †Orophodontoidea *************Family †Orophodontidae ***********Infraorder Megatheria ************Superfamily Megatherioidea *************Family †Megatheriidae: ground sloths *************Family

: two-toed sloths ************Superfamily Bradypodoidea *************Family Bradypodidae: three-toed sloths ********Magnorder Epitheria: epitheres *********Superorder †Leptictida **********Family †Gypsonictopidae **********Family †Kulbeckiidae **********Family †Didymoconidae **********Family †Leptictidae *********Superorder Preptotheria **********Grandorder Anagalida ***********Family †Zambdalestidae ***********Family †Anagalidae ***********Family †Pseudictopidae ***********Mirorder Macroscelidea: elephant shrews ************Family Macroscelididae: elephant shrews ***********Mirorder Duplicidentata ************Order †Mimotonida *************Family †Mimotonidae ************Order Lagomorpha *************Family Ochotonidae: pikas *************Family Leporidae: rabbits ***********Mirorder Simplicidentata ************Order †Mixodontia *************Family †Eurymylidae ************Order Rodentia: rodents *************Family †Alagomyidae *************Family †Laredomyidae *************Suborder

**************Superfamily †Ischyromyoidea ***************Family †Ischyromyidae **************Superfamily Aplodontoidea ***************Family †Allomyidae ***************Family

: mountain beaver ***************Family †Mylagaulidae **************Infraorder †Theridomyomorpha ***************Family †Theridomyidae **************Infraorder Sciurida ***************Family †Reithroparamyidae ***************Family Sciuridae: squirrels **************Infraorder Castorimorpha ***************Family †Eutypomyidae ***************Family

: beavers ***************Family †Rhizospalacidae *************Suborder

**************Family †Protoptychidae **************Infraorder Myodonta ***************Superfamily Dipodoidea ****************Family †Armintomyidae ****************Family Dipodidae: jumping mice, jerboas ***************Superfamily Muroidea ****************Family †Simimyidae ****************Family Muroidea, Muridae: rats, mice, and relatives **************Infraorder Glirimorpha ***************Family Myoxidae: dormice **************Infraorder Geomorpha ***************Superfamily †Eomyoidea ****************Family †Eomyidae ***************Superfamily Geomyoidea ****************Family †Florentiamyidae ****************Family Geomyidae: pocket gophers, pocket mice, and kangaroo rats *************Suborder

**************Superfamily Pedetoidea ***************Family †Parapedetidae ***************Family Pedetidae: springhaas **************Superfamily Anomaluroidea ***************Family †Zegdoumyidae ***************Family Anomaluridae: scaly-tailed squirrels *************Suborder Sciuravida **************Family †Ivanantoniidae **************Family †Sciuravidae **************Family †Chapattimyidae **************Family †Cylindrodontidae **************Family Ctenodactylidae: gundis *************Suborder Hystricognatha **************Family †Tsaganomyidae **************Infraorder Hystricognathi ***************Family Hystricidae: Old World porcupines ***************Family Erethizontidae: New World porcupines ***************Family †Myophiomyidae ***************Family †Diamantomyidae ***************Family †Phiomyidae ***************Family †Kenyamyidae ***************Family Petromuridae: rock rats ***************Family Thryonomyidae: cane rats ***************Parvorder Bathyergomorphi ****************Family Bathyergidae: mole-rats ****************Family †Bathyergoididae ***************Parvorder Caviomorpha, Caviida ****************Superfamily Cavioidea *****************Family Agoutidae: agoutis and pacas *****************Family †Eocardiidae *****************Family Dinomyidae: pacarana *****************Family Caviidae: cavies *****************Family Hydrochoeridae: capybara ****************Superfamily Octodontoidea *****************Family Octodontidae: degus, tuco-tucos *****************Family Echimyidae: spiny rats, nutria *****************Family Capromyidae: hutias *****************Family † Heptaxodontidae ****************Superfamily Chinchilloidea *****************Family

: chinchillas, viscachas *****************Family †Neoepiblemidae *****************Family Abrocomidae: rat chinchillas **********Grandorder

***********Order Cimolesta - pangolins and relatives ************Family †Palaeoryctidae ************Suborder †Didelphodonta *************Family †Cimolestidae ************Suborder †Apatotheria *************Family †Apatemyidae ************Suborder †Taeniodonta *************Family †Taeniodont, Stylinodontidae ************Suborder †Tillodonta *************Family †Tillotheriidae ************Suborder †Pantodonta *************Family †Wangliidae *************Superfamily †Bemalambdoidea **************Family †Harpyodidae **************Family †Bemalambdidae *************Superfamily †Pantolambdoidea **************Family †Pastoralodontidae **************Family †Titanoideidae **************Family †Pantolambdidae **************Family †Barylambdidae **************Family †Cyriacotheriidae **************Family †Pantolambdodontidae *************Superfamily †Coryphodontoidea **************Family †Coryphodontidae ************Suborder †Pantolesta *************Family †Pantolestidae *************Family †Paroxyclaenidae *************Family †Ptolemaiidae ************Suborder Pholidota *************Family †Epoicotheriidae *************Family †Metacheiromyidae *************Family

: pangolins ************Suborder †Ernanodonta *************Family †Ernanodontidae ***********Order †Creodonta: creodonts ************Family †Hyaenodontidae ************Family †Oxyaenidae ***********Order

************Suborder Feliformia *************Family †Viverravidae *************Family †Nimravidae *************Family

: cats *************Family Viverridae: civets, Asiatic palm civets *************Family Herpestidae: mongooses *************Family Hyaenidae: hyaenas, aardwolf *************Family Nandiniidae: African palm civets ************Suborder

*************Family †Miacidae *************Infraorder Cynoidea **************Family

: dogs *************Infraorder Arctoidea **************Parvorder Ursida ***************Superfamily †Amphicyonoidea ****************Family †Amphicyonidae ***************Superfamily Ursoidea ****************Family Ursidae: bears ****************Family †Hemicyonidae ***************Superfamily Pinnipedia, Phocoidea ****************Family Otariidae: eared seals ****************Family Phocidae: seals, walrus **************Parvorder Mustelida ***************Family Mustelidae: weasels, skunks, and relatives ***************Family

: ringtails, olingos, kinkajou, raccoons, coatis, red panda **********Grandorder Lipotyphla ***********Family †Adapisoriculidae ************Order Chrysochloridea *************Family Chrysochloridae: golden moles ************Order Erinaceomorpha *************Family †Sespedectidae *************Family †Amphilemuridae *************Family †Adapisoricidae *************Family †Creotarsidae *************Superfamily Erinaceoidea **************Family

: hedgehogs and relatives *************Superfamily Talpoidea **************Family †Proscalopidae **************Family Talpidae: moles **************Family †Dimylidae ************Order Soricomorpha *************Family †Otlestidae *************Family †Geolabididae *************Superfamily Soricoidea **************Family † Nesophontidae: recently extinct west Indian shrews **************Family †Micropternodontidae **************Family †Apternodontidae **************Family Solenodontidae: solenodons **************Family †Plesiosoricidae **************Family †Nyctitheriidae **************Family Soricidae: shrews *************Superfamily Tenrecoidea **************Family Tenrecidae: tenrecs **********Grandorder Archonta ***********Order Chiroptera: bats ************Suborder Megachiroptera *************Family Pteropodidae: flying foxes ************Suborder Microchiroptera *************Family †Archaeonycteridae *************Family †Paleochiropterygidae *************Family †Hassianycterididae *************Family Emballonuridae: sac-winged bats *************Infraorder Yinochiroptera **************Superfamily Rhinopomatoidea ***************Family Rhinopomatidae: mouse-tailed bats ***************Family Craseonycteridae: bumblebee bats **************Superfamily Rhinolophoidea ***************Family

: false vampire bats ***************Family Nycteridae: hispid bats ***************Family Rhinolophidae: horseshoe and Old World leaf-nosed bats *************Infraorder Yangochiroptera **************Family

: New Zealand short-tailed bats **************Superfamily Noctilionoidea ***************Family Noctilionidae: fishing bats ***************Family

: spectacled bats ***************Family Phyllostomidae: New World leaf-nosed and vampire bats **************Superfamily Vespertilionoidea ***************Family †Philisidae ***************Family Molossidae: free-tailed bats ***************Family

: funnel-eared bats ***************Family

: smoky bats ***************Family

: New World sucker-footed bats ***************Family Myzopodidae: Old World sucker-footed bats ***************Family

: common bats ***********Order

: primates ************Family †Purgatoriidae ************Family †Microsyopidae ************Family †Micromomyidae ************Family †Picromomyidae ************Family †Plesiadapidae ************Family †Palaechthonidae ************Family †Picrodontidae ************Suborder Dermoptera *************Family †Paramomyidae *************Family †Plagiomenidae *************Family †Mixodectidae *************Family Galeopithecidae: colugos ************Suborder Euprimates *************Infraorder Strepsirrhini **************Family †Plesiopithecidae **************Superfamily Daubentonioidea ***************Family Daubentoniidae: aye-aye **************Superfamily Lemuroidea ***************Family †Adapidae ***************Family Lemuridae: lemurs **************Superfamily Loroidea ***************Family Lorisidae: lorises and galagos ***************Family Cheirogaleidae: dwarf lemurs **************Superfamily Indroidea ***************Family †Archaeolemuridae ***************Family †Palaeopropithecidae ***************Family Indriidae: indris and sifakas *************Infraorder Haplorhini **************Parvorder Tarsiiformes ***************Superfamily †Carpolestoidea ****************Family †Carpolestidae ***************Superfamily Tarsioidea ****************Family †Omomyidae ****************Family †Microchoeridae ****************Family †Afrotarsiidae ****************Family

: tarsiers **************Parvorder Anthropoidea ***************Family †Eosimiidae ***************Family †Parapithecidae ***************Superfamily Cercopithecoidea ****************Family †Pliopithecidae ****************Family

: Old World monkeys including colobuses ****************Family

: humans, greater apes, lesser apes ***************Superfamily Callitrichoidea ****************Family

: marmosets ****************Family

: New World monkeys ***********Order Scandentia ************Family

: tree shrews **********Grandorder

: ungulates ***********Order Tubulidentata ************Family

: aardvark ***********Order †Dinocerata ************Family †Uintatheriidae ***********Mirorder Eparctocyona ************Order †Procreodi *************Family †Oxyclaenidae *************Family †Arctocyonidae ************Order †Condylarthra *************Family †Hyopsodontidae *************Family †Mioclaenidae *************Family †Phenacodontidae *************Family †Periptychidae *************Family †Peligrotheriidae *************Family †Didolodontidae ************Order †Arctostylopida *************Family †Arctostylopidae ************Order Cetacea, Cete: whales and relatives *************Suborder †Acreodi **************Family †Triisodontidae **************Family †Mesonychidae: mesonychids **************Family †Hapalodectidae *************Suborder

**************Infraorder †Archaeoceti ***************Family †Basilosauridae ***************Family †Protocetidae ***************Family †Remingtonocetidae **************Infraorder Autoceta ***************Family †Agorophiidae ***************Superfamily †Squalodontoidea ****************Family †Squalodontidae ****************Family †Rhabdosteidae ***************Parvorder

****************Family †Aetiocetidae ****************Family †Mammalodontidae ****************Family †Cetotheriidae ****************Family

: rorquals and grey whales ****************Family

: right and bowhead whales ***************Parvorder

****************Superfamily Physeteroidea *****************Family Physeteridae: sperm whales ****************Superfamily Hyperoodontoidea *****************Family Hyperoodontidae: beaked whales ****************Superfamily Platanistoidea *****************Family

: river dolphins ****************Superfamily Delphinoidea *****************Family Delphinidae: dolphins *****************Family Pontoporiidae: La Plata River dolphin *****************Family

: baiiji *****************Family

: Amazon River dolphin *****************Family †Kentridontidae *****************Family Monodontidae: beluga and narwhal *****************Family †Odobenocetopsidae *****************Family †Dalpiazinidae *****************Family †Acrodelphinidae *****************Family

: porpoises *****************Family †Albireonidae *****************Family †Hemisyntrachelidae ************Order Artiodactyla: even-toed ungulates *************Suborder

**************Family †Raoellidae **************Family †Choeropotamidae **************Superfamily Suoidea ***************Family

: pigs ***************Family Tayassuidae: peccaries ***************Family †Santheriidae ***************Family

: hippos **************Superfamily †Dichobunoidea ***************Family †Dichobunidae ***************Family †Cebochoeridae ***************Family †Mixtotheriidae *****************Family †Helohyidae **************Superfamily †Anthracotherioidea ***************Family †Haplobunodontidae ***************Family †Anthracotheriidae **************Superfamily †Anoplotherioidea ***************Family †Dacrytheriidae ***************Family †Anoplotheriidae ***************Family †Cainotheriidae **************Superfamily †Oreodontoidea ***************Family †Agriochoeridae ***************Family †Oreodontidae **************Superfamily †Entelodontoidea ***************Family †Entelodontidae *************Suborder Tylopoda **************Family †Xiphodontidae **************Superfamily Cameloidea ***************Family

: camels and llamas ***************Family †Oromerycidae **************Superfamily †Protoceratoidea ***************Family †Protoceratidae *************Suborder

**************Family †Amphimerycidae **************Family †Hypertragulidae **************Family Tragulidae: mouse deer **************Family †Leptomerycidae **************Family †Bachitheriidae **************Family †Lophiomerycidae **************Family †Gelocidae **************Superfamily Cervoidea ***************Family

: musk deer ***************Family

: pronghorn ***************Family †Palaeomerycidae ***************Family †Hoplitomerycidae ***************Family Cervidae: deer **************Superfamily Giraffoidea ***************Family †Climacoceratidae ***************Family

: giraffe and okapi **************Superfamily Bovoidea ***************Family Bovidae: cattle, antelope, and relatives ***********Mirorder †Meridiungulata ************Family †Perutheriidae ************Family †Amilnedwardsiidae ************Order †Litopterna *************Family †Protolipternidae *************Superfamily †Macrauchenioidea **************Family †Macraucheniidae **************Family †Notonychopidae **************Family †Adianthidae *************Superfamily †Proterotherioidea **************Family †Proterotheriidae ************Order †Notoungulata: notoungulates *************Suborder †Notioprogonia **************Family †Henricosborniidae **************Family †Notostylopidae *************Suborder †Toxodontia **************Family †Isotemnidae **************Family †Leontiniidae **************Family †Notohippidae **************Family †Toxodontidae **************Family †Homalodotheriidae *************Suborder †Typotheria **************Family †Archaeopithecidae **************Family †Oldfieldthomasiidae **************Family †Interatheriidae **************Family †Campanorcidae **************Family †Mesotheriidae *************Suborder †Hegetotheria **************Family †Archaeohyracidae **************Family †Hegetotheriidae ************Order †Astrapotheria *************Family †Eoastrapostylopidae *************Family †Trigonostylopidae *************Family †Astrapotheriidae ************Order †Xenungulata *************Family †Carodniidae ************Order †Pyrotheria *************Family †Pyrotheriidae ***********Mirorder Altungulata ************Order Perissodactyla: odd-toed ungulates *************Suborder Hippomorpha **************Family Equidae: horses **************Family †Palaeotheriidae *************Suborder Ceratomorpha **************Infraorder †Selenida ***************Superfamily †Brontotherioidea ****************Family †Brontotheriidae ****************Family †Anchilophidae ***************Superfamily †Chalicotherioidea ****************Family †Eomoropidae ****************Family †Chalicotheriidae **************Infraorder Tapiromorpha ***************Superfamily Rhinocerotoidea ****************Family †Hyracodontidae ****************Family

: rhinoceroses ***************Superfamily Tapiroidea ****************Family †Helaletidae ****************Family †Isectolophidae ****************Family †Lophiodontidae ****************Family †Deperetellidae ****************Family †Lophialetidae ****************Family

: tapirs ************Order Uranotheria: elephants, manatees, hyraxes, and relatives *************Suborder Hyracoidea ***************Family †Pliohyracidae ***************Family

: hyraxes *************Suborder †Embrithopoda **************Family †Phenacolophidae **************Family †Arsinoitheriidae *************Suborder Tethytheria **************Infraorder Sirenia: manatees, dugong, and sea cow ***************Family †Prorastomidae ***************Family

: dugongs ***************Family Trichechidae: manatees **************Infraorder Behemota ***************Parvorder †Desmostylia ****************Family †Desmostylidae ***************Parvorder

****************Family †Anthracobunidae ****************Family †Moeritheriidae ****************Family †Numidotheriidae ****************Family †Barytheriidae ****************Family †Deinotheriidae ****************Family †Palaeomastodontidae ****************Family †Phiomiidae ****************Family †Hemimastodontidae ****************Superfamily ‡Mammutoidea *****************Family †Mammutidae: mastodons and relatives ****************Superfamily Elephantoidea *****************Family †Gomphotheriidae: gomphotheres *****************Family Elephantidae: modern elephants

Luo, Kielan-Jaworowska, and Cifelli classification

Several important fossil mammal discoveries have been made that have led researchers to question many of the relationships proposed by McKenna and Bell (1997). Additionally, researchers are subjecting taxonomic hypotheses to more rigorous cladistic analyses of early mammal fossils. Luo et al. (2002) summarized existing ideas and proposed new ideas of relationships among mammals at the most Basal (phylogenetics), basal level. They argued that the term mammal should be defined based on characters (especially the dentary-squamosal jaw articulation) instead of a crown-based definition (the group that contains most recent common ancestor of monotremes and therians and all of its descendants). Their definition of Mammalia is roughly equal to the Mammaliaformes as defined by McKenna and Bell (1997) and other authors. They also define their taxonomic levels as clades and do not apply Rank (zoology), Linnean hierarchies. Mammalia *†''Sinoconodon'' - earliest and most basal of mammals *Unnamed clade 1 - a clade that contains all other mammals. These are characterized by determinant growth and occlusal features of the cheek teeth. **†Morganucodontidae - morganucodontids, including †''Morganucodon'', †''Megazostrodon'', and others **†Docodonta - docodonts, including †''Haldanodon'' and †''Castorocauda'' (Ji et al., 2006) **Unnamed clade 2 - a clade containing all living mammals and some fossil relatives. It is characterized by the loss of a postdentary trough and a widened braincase. ***†''Hadrocodium'' ***†''Kuehneotherium'' ***Crown-group

- the group that contains most recent common ancestor of monotremes and therians and all of its descendants. This group is defined by additional characters relating the occlusion of Molar (tooth), molars and the presence of a well-developed masseteric fossa. ****Australosphenida - a clade that contains monotremes and their fossil relatives. These fossils include †''Ambondro'', †''Asfaltomylos'', †''Ausktribosphenos'', and †''Bishops''. If correct, this clade represents an independent evolution of the tribosphenic molar in Gondwana, southern continents. ****Trechnotheria -

ns, Spalacotheriidae, spalacotheriids and their relatives. They are characterized by features of the scapula, tibia, and humerus. *****†Spalacotheriidae - including ''Akidolestes'', ''Zhangheotherium'', and ''Maotherium''. *****Cladotheria - Therians, Dryolestidae, dryolestids, and their relatives. They are characterized by features of the tribosphenic molar and the angular process of the dentary. ******†Dryolestidae ******†''Amphitherium'' - ''incertae sedis'' (it may be a prototribosphenidan) ******Prototribosphenida - Therians and fossil relatives including †''Vincelestes''. Characterized by features of the cochlea including coiling. *******†''Vincelestes'' *******Zatheria - Therians and fossil relatives including the "peramurids". Characterized by the presence of wear in the talonid of the lower molars. ********†"Peramuridae" - †''Peramus'' and relatives. Known only from preserved mandibles and distinctly zatherian molars. ********Boreosphenida - Therians and fossil relatives including †''Kielantherium''. They are characterized by molar features. *********†''Kielantherium'' *********†Deltatheroida including †''Deltatheridium'' - ''incertae sedis'' (it may represent a metatherian) *********Crown-group

- the group that contains most recent common ancestor of marsupials and placentals and all of its descendants. Characterized by a host of molar features, aspects of the alispenoid, and aspects of the talus bone, astragalus region. ****†Eutriconodonta - ''incertae sedis''. Triconodonts appear to be a member of the crown-Mammalia clade, but their relationships within it are unknown. It is also not certain that they represent a monophyly, monophyletic group. Examples include ''Repenomamus''. ***†Multituberculata - ''incertae sedis''. Luo e al. (2002) argue that multituberculates cannot be confidently placed in a particular clade of mammals. They suggest that they represent either basal mammals or are sister to the Trechnotheria.

Simplified classification for non-specialists

The following classification is a simplified version based on current understanding suitable for non-specialists who want to understand how living genera are related to each other. The classification ignores differences in levels and thus cannot be used to estimate the respective distances between taxa. It also ignores taxa that became extinct in pre-historic times. Finally, English names are preferred whenever they exist. This makes it especially suited for non-specialists who wish to gain an easy overview. For the full picture, the non-simplified versions above should be consulted. *Monotremes (prototheria): echidnas and platypus **Platypus **Echidnas (tachyglossids) *Live-bearing mammals (theria) **Marsupials ***Opossums (didelphids) ***Shrew opossums (caenolestids) ***Australodelphia: Australian marsupials and monito del Monte ****Monito del Monte ****Dasyuromorphs *****Dasyurids: antechinuses, quolls, dunnarts, Tasmanian devil, and allies *****Numbat ****Peramelemorphs: bilbies and bandicoots *****Bilbies (thylacomyids) *****Bandicoots (peramelids) ****Marsupial moles (notoryctids) ****Diprotodonts *****Koala *****Wombats (vombatids) *****Phalangerids: brushtail possums and cuscuses *****Pygmy possums (burramyids) *****Honey possum *****Petaurids: striped and Leadbeater's possums, and yellow-bellied, suger, mahogany and squirrel glider *****Ringtailed possums (pseudocheirids) *****Potorids: potoroos, rat kangaroos and bettongs *****Acrobatids: feathertail glider and feather-tailed possum *****Musky rat-kangaroo *****Macropodids: kangaroos, wallabies and allies **Placentals ***Atlantic placentals (atlantogenatans) ****Afroplacentals (afrotherians) *****Afroinsectiphilians: elephant shrews, tenrecs, otter shrews, golden moles, and aardvark ******Elephant shrews (macroscelidids) ******Afrosoricids: tenrecs and golden moles *******Tenrecids: tenrecs and otter shrews *******Golden moles (chrysochlorids) ******Aardvark *****Paenungulates: hyraxes, elephants, dugongs and manatees ******Hyraxes or dassies (procaviids) ******Elephants (elephantids) ******Sirenians: dugong and manatees *******Dugong *******Manatees (trichechids) ****Xenarthrans *****Pilosans: sloths and anteaters ******Anteaters (vermilinguans) *******Silky anteater *******Myrmecophagids: giant anteater and tamanduas ******Sloths (folivorans) *******Three-toed sloths (bradypodids) *******Two-toed sloths (megalonychids) *****Armadillos (dasypodids) ***Northern placentals (boreoeutherians) ****Supraprimates (euarchontoglires) *****Euarchontans: treeshrews, colugos and primates ******Treeshrews (scandentians) *******Tupaiids: all treeshrews except pen-tailed *******Pen-tailed treeshrew ******Colugos or flying lemurs (cynocephalids) ******Primates *******Strepsirrhines: lemur- and loris-like primates ********Lemur-like primates (lemuriforms) *********Cheirogaleids: dwarf lemurs and mouse-lemurs *********Aye-aye *********True lemurs (lemurids) *********Sportive lemurs (lepilemurids) *********Indriids: woolly lemurs and allies ********Loris-like primates (lorisiforms) *********Lorisids: lorises, pottos and allies *********Galagos (galagids) *******Haplorhines: tarsiers, monkeys and apes ********Tarsiers (tarsiids) ********Anthropoid primates *********New World monkeys (platyrrhines) **********Callitrichids: marmosets and tamarins **********Cebids: capuchins and squirrel monkeys **********Aotids: night or owl monkeys **********Pitheciids: titis, sakis and uakaris **********Atelids: howler, spider, woolly spider, and woolly monkeys *********Catarrhines **********Old World monkeys (cercopithecids) **********Hominoid primates ***********Gibbons (hylobatids) ***********Great apes (hominids): incl. Humans *****Glires: pikas, rabbits, hares, and rodents ******Lagomorphs: pikas, rabbits and hares *******Leporids: rabbits and hares *******Pikas (ochotonids) ******Rodents *******Anomalure-like rodents (anomaluromorphs): Scaly-tailed squirrels and springhares ********Scaly-tailed squirrels or anomalures (anomalurids) ********Springhares (pedetids) *******Beaver-like rodents (castorimorphs) ********Beavers (castorids) ********Gopher-like rodents (geomyoid rodents) *********Pocket or true gophers (geomyids) *********Heteromyids: kangaroo rats and kangaroo mice *******Porcupine-like rodents (hystricomorphs) ********Laotian rock rat ********Gundis (ctenodactylids) ********Hystricognaths *********African mole rats (bathyergids) *********Old World porcupines (hystricids) *********Dassie rat *********Cane rats (thryonomyids) *********Cavy-like rodents (caviomorphs) **********Chinchilla rats (abrocomids) **********Hutias (capromyids) **********Cavies (caviids): incl. Guinea pigs and capybara **********Chinchillids: chinchillas and viscachas **********Tuco-tucos (ctenomyids) **********Agoutis (dasyproctids) **********Pacas (cuniculids) **********Pacarana **********Spiny rats (echymyids) **********New World porcupines (erethizontids) **********Myocastorids: nutria and coypu **********Octodonts (octodontids): Andean rock-rats, degus and viscacha-rats *******Mouse-like rodents (myomorphs) ********Dipodids: jerboas and jumping mice ********Muroid rodents *********Mouse-like hamsters (calomyscids) *********Cricetids: hamsters, New World rats and mice, voles *********Murids: true mice and rats, gerbils, spiny mice, crested rat *********Nesomyids: climbing mice, rock mice, white-tailed rat, Malagasy rats and mice *********Spiny dormice (platacanthomyids) *********Spalacids: mole rats, bamboo rats, and zokors *******Squirrel-like rodents (sciuromorphs) ********Mountain beaver ********Dormice (glirids) ********Squirrels (sciurids): incl. chipmunks, prairie dogs, and marmots ****Laurasian placentals (laurasiatherians) *****Hedgehogs (erinaceids) *****Soricomorphs: moles, shrews, solenodons ******Shrews (soricids) ******Moles (talpids) ******Solenodons (solenodontids) *****Ferungulates: ungulates, cetaceans, bats, pangolins and carnivorans ******Cetartiodactyls: even-toed ungulates and cetaceans *******Camelids: camels and llamas *******Swine (suinans): pigs and peccaries ********Pigs (suids) ********Peccaries (tayassuids) *******Cetruminantians: cetaceans, hippos and ruminants ********Cetancodonts: cetaceans and hippos *********Cetaceans: Whales, dolphins and porpoises **********Baleen whales (mysticetes) ***********Balaenids: right whales and bowhead whale ***********Rorquals (balaenopterids) ***********Gray whale ***********Pygmy right whale **********Toothed whales (odontocetes) ***********Dolphins (delphinids) ***********Monodontids: beluga and narwhal ************Beluga ************Narwhal ***********Porpoises (phocoenids) ***********Sperm whale ***********Kogiids: pygmy and dwarf sperm whale ***********River dolphins (platanistoid whales) ************Iniids: Amazon and Bolivian river dolphin ************La Plata dolphin ************Platanistids: Ganges and Indus river dolphins ***********Beaked whales (ziphids) *********Hippos (hippopotamids) ********Ruminantiamorphs: chevrotains, pronghorn, giraffes, musk deer, deer, and bovids *********Chevrotains (tragulids) *********Pecorans **********Pronghorn **********Giraffids: giraffe and okapi **********Musk deer (moschids) **********Deer (cervids) **********Bovids: cattle, goats, sheep and antelope ******Pegasoferans: bats, odd-toed ungulates, pangolins and carnivorans *******Bats (chiropterans) ********Megabats (pteropodids) ********Microbats (microchiropterans) *********Sac-winged or sheath-tailed bats (emballonurids) *********Rhinopomatoid bats **********Mouse-tailed bats (rhinopomatids) **********Bumblebee bat or Kitti's hog-nosed bat *********Rhinolophoid bats **********Horseshoe bats (rhinolophids) **********Hollow-faced or slit-faced bats (nycterids) **********False vampires (megadermatids) *********Vesper bats or evening bats (vespertilionids) *********Molossoid bats **********Free-tailed bats (molossids) **********Pallid bats (antrozoids) *********Nataloid bats **********Funnel-eared bats (natalids) **********Sucker-footed bats (myzopodids) **********Disc-winged bats (thyropterids) **********Smoky bats (furipterids) *********Noctilionoid bats **********Bulldog or fisherman bats (noctilionids) **********New Zealand short-tailed bats (mystacinids) **********Ghost-faced or moustached bats (mormoopids) **********Leaf-nosed bats (phyllostomids) *******Zooamatans: odd-toed ungulates, pangolins and carnivorans ********Odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls) *********Horses (equids) *********Ceratomorphs **********Tapirs (tapirids) **********Rhinoceroses (rhinocerotids) ********Ferans *********Pangolins or scaly anteaters (manids) *********Carnivorans **********Cat-like carnivorans (feliforms) ***********African palm civet ***********Feloid carnivorans ************Asiatic linsangs (prionodontids) ************Cats (felids) ***********Viverroid carnivorans ************Viverrids: civets and allies ************Herpestoid carnivorans *************Hyaenids: hyenas and aardwolf *************Malagasy carnivorans (euplerids) *************Herpestids: mongooses and allies **********Dog-like carnivorans (caniforms) ***********Canids: dogs and allies ***********Arctoid carnivorans ************Bears (ursids) ************Musteloid carnivorans *************Red panda *************Mephitids: skunks and stink badgers *************Mustelids: weasels, martens, badgers, wolverines, minks, ferrets and otters *************Procyonids: raccoons and allies ************Pinnipeds *************Walrus *************Otariids: sea lions, eared seals, fur seals *************True seals (phocids)

References

* * Wilson, Don E. and Deeann M. Reeder (eds). (1993.) ''Mammal Species of the World''. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1206 pp. * McKenna, Malcolm C. and Bell, Susan K. (1997.) ''Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level.'' Columbia University Press, New York, 631 pp. * Nowak, Ronald M. (1999.) ''Walker's Mammals of the World'', 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. * Vaughan, Terry A., James M. Ryan and Nicholas J. Capzaplewski. (2000.) ''Mammalogy: Fourth Edition''. Saunders College Publishing, 565 pp. (Brooks Cole, 1999) * * * {{cite journal , last1=Ji , first1=Q. , last2=Luo , first2=Z.-X. , last3=Yuan , first3=C.-X. , last4=Tabrum , first4=A. R. , year=2006 , title=A swimming mammaliaform from the Middle Jurassic and ecomorphological diversification of early mammals , journal=Science , volume=311 , issue=5764 , pages=1123–1127 , doi=10.1126/science.1123026 , pmid=16497926, bibcode=2006Sci...311.1123J , s2cid=46067702 Mammal taxonomy, Mammal classification Systems of animal taxonomy

Molecular classification of placentals

Atlantogenata

Afrotheria

Xenarthra

Boreoeutheria

Euarchontoglires

Laurasiatheria

Standardized textbook classification

Subclass Prototheria

Subclass Theria Theria (; Greek: , wild beast) is a subclass of mammals amongst the Theriiformes. Theria includes the eutherians (including the placental mammals) and the metatherians (including the marsupials) but excludes the egg-laying monotremes. Ch ...

McKenna/Bell classification

Subclass Prototheria

Subclass Theriiformes

Luo, Kielan-Jaworowska, and Cifelli classification

Simplified classification for non-specialists

See also

References

Subclass
Theria Theria (; Greek: , wild beast) is a subclass of mammals amongst the Theriiformes. Theria includes the eutherians (including the placental mammals) and the metatherians (including the marsupials) but excludes the egg-laying monotremes. Ch ...