Mammal classification
| Rodentia Chiroptera Soricomorpha Primates Carnivora Artiodactyla Diprotodontia Lagomorpha Didelphimorphia Cetacea Dasyuromorphia | Afrosoricida Erinaceomorpha Cingulata Peramelemorphia Scandentia Perissodactyla Macroscelidea Pilosa Monotremata Proboscidea |
Mammalia is a class of animal within the Phylum Chordata. Mammal classification has been through several iterations since Carl Linnaeus initially defined the class. No classification system is universally accepted; McKenna & Bell (1997) and Wilson & Reader (2005) provide useful recent compendiums.[1] Many earlier ideas from Linnaeus et al. have been completely abandoned by modern taxonomists, among these are the idea that bats are related to birds or that humans represent a group outside of other living things.[2] 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 groups. The field has also seen a recent surge in interest and modification due to the results of molecular phylogenetics.
George Gaylord Simpson's classic "Principles of Classification and a Classification of Mammals" (Simpson, 1945) taxonomy text laid out a systematics of mammal origins and relationships that was universally taught until the end of the 20th century.
Since Simpson's 1945 classification, 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. Though field work gradually made Simpson's classification outdated, it remained the closest thing to an official classification of mammals.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 and list of monotremes and marsupials for more detailed information on mammal genera and species.
Mammles
Standardized textbook classification
A somewhat standardized classification system has been adopted by most current mammalogy classroom textbooks. The following taxonomy of extant and recently extinct mammals is taken from Vaughan et al. (2000). 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
- Infraclass Metatheria (marsupials and their nearest ancestors)
- Order Didelphimorphia
- Family Didelphidae (opossums, etc.)
- Order Paucituberculata
- Family Caenolestidae (shrew opossums)
- Order Microbiotheria
- Family Microbiotheriidae (monito del montes)
- Order Dasyuromorphia (most carnivorous marsupials)
- Family Thylacinidae (Tasmanian tigers)
- Family Myrmecobiidae (numbats)
- Family Dasyuridae (Tasmanian devils, quolls, dunnarts, planigale, etc.)
- Order Peramelemorphia (bandicoots, bilbies, etc.)
- Family Peramelidae
- Family Peroryctidae
- Order Notoryctemorphia (marsupial moles)
- Family Notoryctidae
- Order Diprotodontia
- Family Phascolarctidae (koalas)
- Family Vombatidae (wombats)
- Family Phalangeridae (brushtail possums and cuscuses)
- Family Potoroidae (bettongs, potoroos and rat kangaroos)
- Family Macropodidae (kangaroos, wallabies, etc.)
- Family Burramyidae (pygmy possums)
- Family Pseudocheiridae (ringtailed possums, etc.)
- Family Petauridae (striped possum, Leadbeater's possum, yellow-bellied glider, sugar glider, mahogany glider and squirrel glider)
- Family Tarsipedidae (honey possum)
- Family Acrobatidae (feathertail glider and feather-tailed possum)
- Order Didelphimorphia
- Infraclass Eutheria
- Order Xenarthra
- Family Bradypodidae
- Family Megalonychidae
- Family Dasypodidae
- Family Myrmecophagidae
- Order Insectivora
Noctilio albiventris 
Acerodon celebensis 
Cynopterus brachyotis 
Epomophorus wahlbergi 
Epomophorus 
Hypsignathus monstrosus - Family Solenodontidae
- Family Nesophontidae
- Family Tenrecidae
- Family Chrysochloridae
- Family Erinaceidae
- Family Soricidae
- Family Talpidae
- Order Scandentia
- Family Tupaiidae
- Order Dermoptera
- Family Cynocephalidae
- Order Chiroptera
- Family Pteropodidae
- Family Emballonuridae
- Family Craseonycteridae
- Family Rhinopomatidae
- Family Nycteridae
- Family Megadermatidae
- Family Rhinolophidae
- Family Phyllostomidae
- Family Mormoopidae
- Family Noctilionidae
- Family Mystacinidae
- Family Molossidae
- Family Myzopodidae
- Family Thyropteridae
- Family Furipteridae
- Family Natalidae
- Family Vespertilionidae
- Order Primates
- Family Daubentoniidae
- Family Lemuridae
- Family Lepilemuridae
- Family Galagidae
- Family Lorisidae
- Family Cheirogaleidae
- Family Indriidae
- Family Tarsiidae
- Family Cercopithecidae
- Family Hominidae
- Family Hylobatidae
- Family Callitrichidae
- Family Cebidae
- Order Carnivora
- Family Felidae
- Family Viverridae
- Family Herpestidae
- Family Hyaenidae
- Family Canidae
- Family Ursidae
- Family Otariidae
- Family Phocidae
- Family Odobenidae
- Family Mustelidae
- Family Procyonidae
- Order Cetacea
- Family Balaenopteridae
- Family Eschrichtiidae
- Family Balaenidae
- Family Neobalaenidae
- Family Physeteridae
- Family Ziphiidae
- Family Platanistidae
- Family Delphinidae
- Family Monodontidae
- Family Phocoenidae
- Order Sirenia
- Family Dugongidae
- Family Trichechidae
- Order Proboscidea
- Family Elephantidae
- Order Perissodactyla
- Family Equidae
- Family Tapiridae
- Family Rhinocerotidae
- Order Hyracoidea
- Family Procaviidae
- Order Tubulidentata
- Family Orycteropodidae
- Order Artiodactyla
- Family Suidae
- Family Tayassuidae
- Family Hippopotamidae
- Family Camelidae
- Family Tragulidae
- Family Giraffidae
- Family Moschidae
- Family Cervidae
- Family Antilocapridae
- Family Bovidae
- Order Pholidota
- Family Manidae
- Order Rodentia
- Family Aplodontiidae
- Family Sciuridae
- Family Castoridae
- Family Geomyidae
- Family Heteromyidae
- Family Dipodidae
- Family Muridae
- Family Anomaluridae
- Family Pedetidae
- Family Ctenodactylidae
- Family Myoxidae
- Family Bathyergidae
- Family Hystricidae
- Family Petromuridae
- Family Thryonomyidae
- Family Erethizontidae
- Family Chinchillidae
- Family Dinomyidae
- Family Caviidae
- Family Hydrochaeridae
- Family Dasyproctidae
- Family Agoutidae
- Family Ctenomyidae
- Family Octodontidae
- Family Abrocomidae
- Family Echimyidae
- Family Capromyidae
- Family Heptaxodontidae
- Family Myocastoridae
- Order Lagomorpha
- Family Ochotonidae
- Family Leporidae
- Order Macroscelidea
- Family Macroscelididae
- Order Xenarthra
McKenna/Bell classification
In 1997, the mammals were comprehensively revised by Malcolm C. McKenna and Susan K. Bell, which has resulted in the "McKenna/Bell classification".
McKenna and Bell, Classification of Mammals: Above the species level, (McKenna & Bell, 1997) 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 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 a 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
- Family †Sloanbaataridae
- Family †Cimolodontidae
- Family †Ptilodontidae
- Family †Cimolomyidae
- Family †Eucosmodontidae
- Family †Taeniolabididae
- Family †Ferugliotheriidae
- Family †Sudamericidae
- Family †Patagoniidae
- Family †Groeberiidae
- Order †Multituberculata: multituberculates
- Infraclass †Triconodonta
- 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 †Austrotriconodontidae
- Family †Dryolestidae
- Family †Paurodontidae
- Family †Donodontidae
- Family †Mesungulatidae
- Family †Reigitheriidae
- Family †Brandoniidae
- Order †Amphitheriida
- Family †Amphitheriidae
- Order †Dryolestida
- Sublegion Zatheria
- Family †Arguitheriidae
- Family †Arguimuridae
- Family †Vincelestidae
- Infralegion †Peramura
- Family †Peramuridae
- Infralegion Tribosphenida
- Family †Necrolestidae
- Supercohort †Aegialodontia
- Family †Aegialodontidae
- Supercohort Theria: 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
- Family †Stagodontidae
- Family †Pediomyidae
- Cohort Marsupialia: marsupials
- Family †Yingabalanaridae
- Magnorder Australidelphia
- Superorder Microbiotheria
- Family Microbiotheriidae: monito del monte
- Superorder Eometatheria
- Order †Yalkaparidontia
- Family †Yalkaparidontidae
- Order Notoryctemorphia: marsupial moles
- Family Notoryctidae: marsupial moles
- Grandorder Dasyuromorphia: marsupial carnivores
- Family †Thylacinidae: recently extinct Tasmanian tiger and relatives
- Family Dasyuridae: Tasmanian devil, quolls, etc.
- Family Myrmecobiidae: numbat
- Grandorder Syndactyli: syndactylous marsupials
- Order Peramelia: bandicoots
- Family Peramelidae
- Family Peroryctidae
- Order Diprotodontia
- Family †Palorchestidae
- Family †Wynardiidae
- Family †Thylacoleonidae
- Family Tarsipedidae: honey possum
- Family †Ilariidae
- Family †Diprotodontidae
- Family Vombatidae: wombats
- Family Phalangeridae: phalangers
- Family Burramyidae: pygmy possums
- Family Macropodidae: rat kangaroos, kangaroos and wallabies
- Family Petauridae: gliders
- Family †Ektopodontidae
- Family Phascolarctidae: koala
- Family †Pilkipildridae
- Family †Miralinidae
- Family Acrobatidae: feather-tail glider, pen-tailed phalanger
- Order Peramelia: bandicoots
- Order †Yalkaparidontia
- Superorder Microbiotheria
- Magnorder Ameridelphia
- Order Didelphimorphia: opossums
- Family Didelphidae: opossums
- Family †Sparassocynidae
- Order Paucituberculata
- Family †Sternbergiidae
- Family Caenolestidae: rat or shrew opossums
- Family †Paleothentidae
- Family †Abderitidae
- Family †Sillustaniidae
- Family †Polydolopidae
- Family †Prepidolopidae
- Family †Bonapartheriidae
- Family †Argyrolagidae
- Family †Glasbiidae
- Family †Caroloameghiniidae
- Order †Sparassodonta
- Family †Mayulestidae
- Family †Hondadelphidae
- Family †Borhyaenidae
- Order Didelphimorphia: opossums
- 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 Vermilingua
- Family Myrmecophagidae: giant anteaters and relatives
- Family Cyclopedidae: pygmy anteater
- Suborder Phyllophaga
- Family †Rathymotheriidae
- Infraorder †Mylodonta
- Family †Scelidotheriidae
- Family †Mylodontidae
- Family †Orophodontidae
- Infraorder Megatheria
- Family †Megatheriidae: ground sloths
- Family Megalonychidae: two-toed sloths
- Family Bradypodidae: three-toed sloths
- Order Cingulata: armadillos and relatives
- 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
- Order †Mimotonida
- Mirorder Simplicidentata
- Order †Mixodontia
- Family †Eurymylidae
- Order Rodentia: rodents
- Family †Alagomyidae
- Family †Laredomyidae
- Suborder Sciuromorpha
- Family †Ischyromyidae
- Family †Allomyidae
- Family Aplodontiidae: mountain beaver
- Family †Mylagaulidae
- Infraorder †Theridomyomorpha
- Family †Theridomyidae
- Family †Reithroparamyidae
- Infraorder Sciurida
- Family Sciuridae: squirrels
- Family †Eutypomyidae
- Infraorder Castorimorpha
- Family Castoridae: beavers
- Family †Rhizospalacidae
- Suborder Myomorpha
- Family †Protoptychidae
- Infraorder Myodonta
- Family †Armintomyidae
- Family Dipodidae: jumping mice, jerboas
- Family †Simimyidae
- Family Muridae: rats, mice, and relatives
- Infraorder Glirimorpha
- Family Myoxidae: dormice
- Infraorder Geomorpha
- Family †Eomyidae
- Family †Florentiamyidae
- Family Geomyidae: pocket gophers, pocket mice, and kangaroo rats
- Suborder Anomaluromorpha
- Family †Parapedetidae
- Family Pedetidae: springhaas
- 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 Caviida
- Family Agoutidae: agoutis and pacas
- Family †Eocardiidae
- Family Dinomyidae: pacarana
- Family Caviidae: cavies
- Family Hydrochoeridae: capybara
- Family Octodontidae: degus, tuco-tucos
- Family Echimyidae: spiny rats, nutria
- Family Capromyidae: hutias
- Family †Heptaxodontidae
- Family Chinchillidae: chinchillas, viscachas
- Family †Neoepiblemidae
- Family Abrocomidae: rat chinchillas
- Order †Mixodontia
- Grandorder Ferae
- Order Cimolesta - pangolins and relatives
- Family †Palaeoryctidae
- Suborder †Didelphodonta
- Family †Cimolestidae
- Suborder †Apatotheria
- Family †Apatemyidae
- Suborder †Taeniodonta
- Family †Stylinodontidae
- Suborder †Tillodonta
- Family †Tillotheriidae
- Suborder †Pantodonta
- Family †Wangliidae
- Family †Harpyodidae
- Family †Bemalambdidae
- Family †Pastoralodontidae
- Family †Titanoideidae
- Family †Pantolambdidae
- Family †Barylambdidae
- Family †Cyriacotheriidae
- Family †Pantolambdodontidae
- Family †Coryphodontidae
- Suborder †Pantolesta
- Family †Pantolestidae
- Family †Paroxyclaenidae
- Family †Ptolemaiidae
- Suborder Pholidota
- Family †Epoicotheriidae
- Family †Metacheiromyidae
- Family Manidae: pangolins
- Suborder †Ernanodonta
- Family †Ernanodontidae
- Order †Creodonta: creodonts
- Family †Hyaenodontidae
- Family †Oxyaenidae
- Order Carnivora
- Suborder Feliformia
- Family †Viverravidae
- Family †Nimravidae
- Family Felidae: cats
- Family Viverridae: civets, Asiatic palm civets
- Family Herpestidae: mongooses
- Family Hyaenidae: hyaenas, aardwolf
- Family Nandiniidae: African palm civets
- Suborder Caniformia
- Family †Miacidae
- Infraorder Cynoidea
- Family Canidae: dogs
- Infraorder Arctoidea
- Parvorder Ursida
- Family †Amphicyonidae
- Family Ursidae: bears
- Family †Hemicyonidae
- Parvorder Pinnipedia
- Parvorder Mustelida
- Family Mustelidae: weasels, skunks, and relatives
- Family Procyonidae: ringtails, olingos, kinkajou, raccoons, coatis, red panda
- Parvorder Ursida
- Suborder Feliformia
- Order Cimolesta - pangolins and relatives
- Grandorder Lipotyphla
- Family †Adapisoriculidae
- Order Chrysochloridea
- Family Chrysochloridae: golden moles
- Order Erinaceomorpha
- Family †Sespedectidae
- Family †Amphilemuridae
- Family †Adapisoricidae
- Family †Creotarsidae
- Family Erinaceidae: hedgehogs and relatives
- Family †Proscalopidae
- Family Talpidae: moles
- Family †Dimylidae
- Order Soricomorpha
- Family †Otlestidae
- Family †Geolabididae
- Family †Nesophontidae: recently extinct west Indian shrews
- Family †Micropternodontidae
- Family †Apternodontidae
- Family Solenodontidae: solenodons
- Family †Plesiosoricidae
- Family †Nyctitheriidae
- Family Soricidae: shrews
- Family Tenrecidae: tenrecs
- Order Chrysochloridea
- Family †Adapisoriculidae
- Grandorder Archonta
- Order Chiroptera: bats
- Family Pteropodidae: flying foxes
- Family †Archaeonycteridae
- Family †Paleochiropterygidae
- Family †Hassianycterididae
- Family Emballonuridae: sac-winged bats
- Family Rhinopomatidae: mouse-tailed bats
- Family Craseonycteridae: bumblebee bats
- Family Megadermatidae: false vampire bats
- Family Nycteridae: hispid bats
- Family Rhinolophidae: horseshoe and Old World leaf-nosed bats
- Family Mystacinidae: New Zealand short-tailed bats
- Family Noctilionidae: fishing bats
- Family Mormoopidae: spectacled bats
- Family Phyllostomidae: New World leaf-nosed and vampire bats
- Family †Philisidae
- Family Molossidae: free-tailed bats
- Family Natalidae: funnel-eared bats
- Family Furipteridae: smoky bats
- Family Thyropteridae: New World sucker-footed bats
- Family Myzopodidae: Old World sucker-footed bats
- Family Vespertilionidae: common bats
- Order Primates: primates
- Family †Purgatoriidae
- Family †Microsyopidae
- Family †Micromomyidae
- Family †Picromomyidae
- Family †Plesiadapidae
- Family †Palaechthonidae
- Family †Picrodontidae
- Family †Paramomyidae
- Family †Plagiomenidae
- Family †Mixodectidae
- Family Galeopithecidae: colugos
- Family †Plesiopithecidae
- Family Daubentoniidae: aye-aye
- Family †Adapidae
- Family Lemuridae: lemurs
- Family Lorisidae: lorises and galagos
- Family Cheirogaleidae: dwarf lemurs
- Family †Archaeolemuridae
- Family †Palaeopropithecidae
- Family Indriidae: indris and sifakas
- Family †Carpolestidae
- Family †Omomyidae
- Family †Microchoeridae
- Family †Afrotarsiidae
- Family Tarsiidae: tarsiers
- Family †Eosimiidae
- Family †Parapithecidae
- Family †Pliopithecidae
- Family Cercopithecidae: Old World monkeys including colobuses
- Family Hominidae: humans, greater apes, lesser apes
- Family Callitrichidae: marmosets
- Family Atelidae: New World monkeys
- Order Scandentia
- Family Tupaiidae: tree shrews
- Order Chiroptera: bats
- Grandorder Ungulata: ungulates
- Order Tubulidentata
- Family Orycteropodidae: 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 Cete: whales and relatives
- Family †Triisodontidae
- Family †Mesonychidae: mesonychids
- Family †Hapalodectidae
- Family †Basilosauridae
- Family †Protocetidae
- Family †Remingtonocetidae
- Family †Agorophiidae
- Family †Squalodontidae
- Family †Rhabdosteidae
- Family †Aetiocetidae
- Family †Mammalodontidae
- Family †Cetotheriidae
- Family Balaenopteridae: rorquals and grey whales
- Family Balaenidae: right and bowhead whales
- Family Physeteridae: sperm whales
- Family Hyperoodontidae: beaked whales
- Family Platanistidae: river dolphins
- Family Delphinidae: dolphins
- Family Pontoporiidae: La Plata River dolphin
- Family Lipotidae: baiiji
- Family Iniidae: Amazon River dolphin
- Family †Kentridontidae
- Family Monodontidae: beluga and narwhal
- Family †Odobenocetopsidae
- Family †Dalpiazinidae
- Family †Acrodelphinidae
- Family Phocoenidae: porpoises
- Family †Albireonidae
- Family †Hemisyntrachelidae
- Order Artiodactyla: even-toed ungulates
- Family †Raoellidae
- Family †Choeropotamidae
- Family Suidae: pigs
- Family Tayassuidae: peccaries
- Family †Santheriidae
- Family Hippopotamidae: hippos
- Family †Dichobunidae
- Family †Cebochoeridae
- Family †Mixtotheriidae
- Family †Helohyidae
- Family †Haplobunodontidae
- Family †Anthracotheriidae
- Family †Dacrytheriidae
- Family †Anoplotheriidae
- Family †Cainotheriidae
- Family †Agriochoeridae
- Family †Oreodontidae
- Family †Entelodontidae
- Family †Xiphodontidae
- Family Camelidae: camels and llamas
- Family †Oromerycidae
- Family †Protoceratidae
- Family †Amphimerycidae
- Family †Hypertragulidae
- Family Tragulidae: mouse deer
- Family †Leptomerycidae
- Family †Bachitheriidae
- Family †Lophiomerycidae
- Family †Gelocidae
- Family Moschidae: musk deer
- Family Antilocapridae: pronghorn
- Family †Palaeomerycidae
- Family †Hoplitomerycidae
- Family Cervidae: deer
- Family †Climacoceratidae
- Family Giraffidae: giraffe and okapi
- Family Bovidae: cattle, antelope, and relatives
- Order †Procreodi
- Mirorder †Meridiungulata
- Family †Perutheriidae
- Family †Amilnedwardsiidae
- Order †Litopterna
- Family †Protolipternidae
- Family †Macraucheniidae
- Family †Notonychopidae
- Family †Adianthidae
- Family †Proterotheriidae
- Order †Notoungulata: notoungulates
- Family †Henricosborniidae
- Family †Notostylopidae
- Family †Isotemnidae
- Family †Leontiniidae
- Family †Notohippidae
- Family †Toxodontidae
- Family †Homalodotheriidae
- Family †Archaeopithecidae
- Family †Oldfieldthomasiidae
- Family †Interatheriidae
- Family †Campanorcidae
- Family †Mesotheriidae
- 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
- Family Equidae: horses
- Family †Palaeotheriidae
- Family †Brontotheriidae
- Family †Anchilophidae
- Family †Eomoropidae
- Family †Chalicotheriidae
- Family †Hyracodontidae
- Family Rhinocerotidae: rhinoceroses
- Family †Helaletidae
- Family †Isectolophidae
- Family †Lophiodontidae
- Family †Deperetellidae
- Family †Lophialetidae
- Family Tapiridae: tapirs
- Order Uranotheria: elephants, manatees, hyraxes, and relatives
- Family †Pliohyracidae
- Family Procaviidae: hyraxes
- Family †Phenacolophidae
- Family †Arsinoitheriidae
- Family †Prorastomidae
- Family Dugongidae: dugongs
- Family Trichechidae: manatees
- Family †Desmostylidae
- Family †Anthracobunidae
- Family †Moeritheriidae
- Family †Numidotheriidae
- Family †Barytheriidae
- Family †Deinotheriidae
- Family †Palaeomastodontidae
- Family †Phiomiidae
- Family †Hemimastodontidae
- Family †Mammutidae: mastodons and relatives
- Family †Gomphotheriidae: gomphotheres
- Family Elephantidae: modern elephants
- Order Perissodactyla: odd-toed ungulates
- Order Tubulidentata
- Grandorder Anagalida
- Superorder †Leptictida
- Sublegion †Dryolestoidea
- Legion †Symmetrodonta
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 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 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 Mammalia - 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 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 southern continents.
- Trechnotheria - Therians, spalacotheriids and their relatives. They are characterized by features of the scapula, tibia, and humerus.
- †Spalacotheriidae - including Akidolestes, Zhangheotherium, and Maotherium.
- Cladotheria - Therians, 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 Theria - 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 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 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)
- Afroinsectiphilians: elephant shrews, tenrecs, otter shrews, golden moles, and aardvark
- Xenarthrans
- Pilosans: sloths and anteaters
- Anteaters (vermilinguans)
- Silky anteater
- Myrmecophagids: giant anteater and tamanduas
- Sloths (folivorans)
- Three-toed sloths (bradypodids)
- Two-toed sloths (megalonychids)
- Anteaters (vermilinguans)
- Armadillos (dasypodids)
- Pilosans: sloths and anteaters
- Afroplacentals (afrotherians)
- 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)
- Lemur-like primates (lemuriforms)
- 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
- New World monkeys (platyrrhines)
- Strepsirrhines: lemur- and loris-like primates
- Treeshrews (scandentians)
- Glires: pikas, rabbits, hares, and rodents
- Lagomorphs: pikas, rabits 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
- Anomalure-like rodents (anomaluromorphs): Scaly-tailed squirrels and springhares
- Lagomorphs: pikas, rabits and hares
- Euarchontans: treeshrews, colugos and primates
- 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)
- Baleen whales (mysticetes)
- Hippos (hippopotamids)
- Cetaceans: Whales, dolphins and porpoises
- 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
- Cetancodonts: cetaceans and hippos
- 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)
- Cat-like carnivorans (feliforms)
- Odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls)
- Bats (chiropterans)
- Cetartiodactyls: even-toed ungulates and cetaceans
- Supraprimates (euarchontoglires)
- Atlantic placentals (atlantogenatans)
- Marsupials
See also
References
- ^ Vaughan, Terry A.; Ryan, James M.; Czaplewski, Nicholas J. (2015), "Chapter 4: Classification of Mammals", Mammalogy (Sixth ed.), ISBN 9781284032093
- ^ Marks, Jonathan M. (1995). Human Biodiversity: Genes, Race, and History. ISBN 9780202366562.
The Wikibook Dichotomous Key has a page on the topic of: Mammalia
- Ji, Q.; Luo, Z.-X.; Yuan, C.-X.; Tabrum, A. R. (2006). "A swimming mammaliaform from the Middle Jurassic and ecomorphological diversification of early mammals". Science. 311 (5764): 1123–1127. doi:10.1126/science.1123026. PMID 16497926.
- Luo, Z.-X.; Kielan-Jaworowska, Z.; Cifelli, R. L. (2002). "In quest for a phylogeny of Mesozoic mammals". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 47: 1–78.
- McKenna, Malcolm C., and Bell, Susan K. 1997. Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press, New York, 631 pp. ISBN 0-231-11013-8
- Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
- Simpson, George Gaylord (1945). "The principles of classification and a classification of mammals". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 85: 1–350.
- Springer, Mark S.; Stanhope, Michael J.; Madsen, Ole; Wilfried (2004). "Molecules consolidate the placental mammal tree" (PDF). Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 19 (8): 430–438. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2004.05.006. PMID 16701301.
- Vaughan, Terry A., James M. Ryan, and Nicholas J. Capzaplewski. 2000. Mammalogy: Fourth Edition. Saunders College Publishing, 565 pp. ISBN 0-03-025034-X (Brooks Cole, 1999)
- Wilson, Don E., and Deeann M. Reeder (eds). 1993. Mammal Species of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1206 pp. ISBN 1-56098-217-9