Phalangeriformes is a paraphyletic suborder of about 70 species of small to medium-sized arboreal marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi. The species are commonly known as possums, gliders, and cuscus. The common name "possum" for various Phalangeriformes species derives from the creatures' resemblance to the opossums of the Americas (the term comes from Powhatan language aposoum "white animal", from Proto-Algonquian *wa·p-aʔɬemwa "white dog"). However, although opossums are also marsupials, Australasian possums are more closely related to other Australasian marsupials such as kangaroos. Phalangeriformes are quadrupedal diprotodont marsupials with long tails. The smallest species, indeed the smallest diprotodont marsupial, is the Tasmanian pygmy possum, with an adult head-body length of and a weight of . The largest are the two species of bear cuscus, which may exceed . Phalangeriformes species are typically nocturnal and at least partially arboreal. They inhabit most vegetated habitats, and several species have adjusted well to urban settings. Diets range from generalist herbivores or omnivores (the common brushtail possum) to specialist browsers of eucalyptus (greater glider), insectivores (mountain pygmy possum) and nectar-feeders (honey possum). Classification About two-thirds of Australian marsupials belong to the order Diprotodontia, which is split into three suborders, namely the Vombatiformes (wombats and the koala, four species in total); the large and diverse Phalangeriformes (the possums and gliders) and Macropodiformes (kangaroos, potoroos, wallabies and the musky rat-kangaroo). Note: this classification is based on Ruedas & Morales 2005. However, Phalangeriformes has been recovered as paraphyletic with respect to Macropodiformes, rendering the latter a subset of the former if Phalangeriformes are to be considered a natural group. Suborder Phalangeriformes: possums, gliders and allies Superfamily Phalangeroidea Family †Ektopodontidae: Genus †Ektopodon †Ektopodon serratus †Ektopodon stirtoni †Ektopodon ulta Family Burramyidae: (pygmy possums) Genus Burramys Mountain pygmy possum, B. parvus Genus Cercartetus Long-tailed pygmy possum, C. caudatus Southwestern pygmy possum, C. concinnus Tasmanian pygmy possum, C. lepidus Eastern pygmy possum, C. nanus Family Phalangeridae: (brushtail possums and cuscuses) Subfamily Ailuropinae Genus Ailurops Talaud bear cuscus, A. melanotis Sulawesi bear cuscus, A. ursinus Genus Strigocuscus Sulawesi dwarf cuscus, S. celebensis Banggai cuscus, S. pelegensis Subfamily Phalangerinae Tribe Phalangerini Genus Phalanger Gebe cuscus, P. alexandrae Mountain cuscus, P. carmelitae Ground cuscus, P. gymnotis Eastern common cuscus, P. intercastellanus Woodlark cuscus, P. lullulae Blue-eyed cuscus, P. matabiru Telefomin cuscus, P. matanim Southern common cuscus, P. mimicus Northern common cuscus, P. orientalis Ornate cuscus, P. ornatus Rothschild's cuscus, P. rothschildi Silky cuscus,