Taxonomy and diversity of living New World Marsupials

TETA, P.A.; CHEMISQUY M.A.; MARTIN, G.

New World Marsupials: an Evolutionary, Biogeographical, and Ecological Approach

SPRINGER

Año: 2022; p. 1 - 26

New World marsupials belong to three different orders:Didelphimorphia, Microbiotheria, and Paucituberculata. Didelphimorphia is oneof the most speciose and successful radiations of recent Neotropical mammals,while Microbiotheria and Paucituberculata were more diverse during the Tertiaryand are considered relictual elements in modern faunas. Phylogenetic studiesbased on molecular data have deeply changed our perception about the taxonomyand diversity of this group of mammals, including recognizing several newgenera, subgenera, and species during the last two decades. Part of the currentlyrecognized diversity can be considered cryptic since some supposedly well-knownspecies were split into more than one species and even multiple genera. In somecases, the recognition of supraspecific taxa, such as subgenera, helped toorganize the diversity in some speciose genera. In this contribution, wereviewed the taxonomic changes produced within all the three orders of NewWorld marsupials during the last century, focusing on the last two decades. Weemphasize that integrative studies, including different sources of evidence andlarge samples without geographical limitations, were key to our betterunderstanding of the diversity of this group of mammals.