Metatheria

Metatheria
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous–recent[1][2][3]
Lycopsis longirostris, an extinct sparassodont, a relative of the marsupials
A mouse opossum (Marmosa)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Clade: Metatheria
Huxley, 1880
Subgroups

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 as many extinct non-marsupial relatives. It is one of two groups placed in the clade Theria alongside Eutheria, which contains the placentals. Remains of metatherians have been found on all of Earths continents.

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