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What are the two major superorders of marsupials?
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marsupial
Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus). The home range of this species spans much of Australia's interior, and it is the largest member of the family Macropodidae.
The infraclass Metatheria (marsupials) is divided into two major superorders:
- Ameridelphia: This group includes approximately 75 or more species across two orders, primarily consisting of opossums found in the Americas.1
- Australidelphia: This group comprises nearly 200 Australasian species and one South American species, organized into five orders, including Diprotodontia (such as kangaroos and wombats) and Dasyuromorphia (carnivorous marsupials).1