DNA-DNA hybridisations have been used to assess the relationship between the microbiothere, Dromiciops australis, and some South American and Australian marsupials. Although there is support for inclusion of D. australis in a separate superfamily and a slightly closer relationship with the two Australian species used, the data are perhaps best interpreted as showing a trichotomy of divergence between microbiotheres, didelphids and Australian marsupials (dasyurids and macropodids) in the early to mid-Cretaceous.