There are two morphological features in the order that appear to show a clear evolutionary link with another marsupial group: the type of foot, and the teeth.

This condition is called syndactyly, and is characteristic of the Diprotodontia (the order of marsupial herbivores that includes kangaroos, wombats, possums, and many others).

Recent molecular level investigations do not so far appear to have resolved the puzzle, but do strongly suggest that whatever the relationship of the bandicoot group to the other marsupial orders may be, it is a distant one.

[4] Recent molecular analyses have resulted in a phylogenetic reconstruction of the members of Peramelemorphia with quite strong support.

The specimen Stirton described was a partial lower jaw from the Tirari Desert in Central Australia, Pliocene in age.

The lower jaw morphology suggested a relationship with bilbies (Family Thylacomyidae), and was named Ischnodon australis.

A single upper molar was recovered from the Bluff Downs fossil site, Allingham Formation, in northern Queensland, also Pliocene in age.

Features of the skull and dentition suggested that Yarala burchfieldi was distinct from other peramelemorphians, and for this reason, a new Superfamily Yaraloidea and Family Yaralidae were erected to classify this species.

In fact, more than one skull of this new species was found (and several lower and upper jaws), and was significantly different from any other bandicoot to erect a new genus, Galadi.

The peramelid, Crash bandicoot, was named after the famous video game character and is only represented by a single upper jaw.

[23] The first record of sexual dimorphism (difference in size between males and females) in a fossil bandicoot was reported from two new species from Riversleigh (Travouillon et al. 2014).