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A marsupial is often described as a pouched mammal, but this is not necessarily what defines it.

Marsupial young are born very undeveloped. Moving purely by instinct, the baby joey (the term for all marsupial young) makes its way to the mother's pouch, where the young joey latches onto a teat, remaining there to continue its growth and development.

Many marsupials have the mammary glands enclosed within a protective pouch. Although a mammal with a pouch is always a marsupial (with the exception of the echidna, which develops a rudimentary pouch during breeding season), not all marsupials have pouches, for example, the numbat of Western Australia.

All marsupials are mammals, but not all mammals are marsupials. Marsupials do not have advanced placentas, and have epipubic bones (with the exception of the marsupial mole). Epipubic bones are bones which project forwards from the pelvis. In the case of marsupials, these bones support the female's pouch, but there are other mammals which are not marsupials which also have epipubic bones. The excretory and reproductive systems of placental mammals and marsupials are also different.

Female marsupials have two vaginas, or what are called paired lateral vaginae. These are for the purpose of transporting the sperm to the womb, but there is a midline pseudovaginal canal for actually giving birth. As well as two vaginas and two uteruses, female marsupials have two fallopian tubes and two cervixes. Most male marsupials, with the exception of the largest species, the Red Kangaroo, Eastern Grey and Western Grey Kangaroos and one of the smallest species, the Honey Possum, have a two-pronged penis to accommodate the females' two vaginas.

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11y ago
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13y ago

Some mammals which are marsupials are:

  • Kangaroo
  • Wallaby
  • Koala
  • wombat
  • numbat
  • quoll
  • quokka
  • wallaroo
  • potoroo
  • bilby
  • bandicoot
  • Tasmanian devil
  • possum
  • glider
  • planigale
  • antechinus
  • dibbler
  • phascogale
  • rat-kangaroo
  • bettong
  • cuscus
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10y ago
  • some sixty species of kangaroo, including wallaroo, potoroo, pademelon, rufous rat-kangaroo and wallaby
  • koala
  • wombat
  • possum (Australia) and opossum (North America)
  • glider
  • potoroo
  • bandicoot, including the bilby
  • quokka
  • quoll
  • Tasmanian Devil
  • phascogale
  • dunnart
  • cuscus
  • bettong
  • numbat (not a pouched marsupial, but a marsupial nonetheless)
  • antechinus
  • marsupial mole

Marsupials are mammals, generally with pouches in which they rear their young, although some species do not have pouches. Marsupial young are characterised by being extremely small and undeveloped at birth. Upon reaching the pouch (or the mother's underbelly, as in the case of the numbat), they latch onto a teat which swells in their mouth to prevent them from being accidentally dislodged during the mother's movements. There they stay for months, to complete their development.

Female marsupials have two vaginas, or what are called paired lateral vaginae. These are for the purpose of transporting the sperm to the womb, but there is a midline pseudovaginal canal for actually giving birth.

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11y ago

Marsupials mammals are a subgroup of mammals. Like all mammals, they are warmblooded vertebrates, which breathe using lungs (rather than gills), and are covered with skin, fur or hair. Mammals, including marsupials, suckle their young on mothers' milk.

Marsupials are mammals with pouches in which they rear their young. Marsupial young are characterised by being extremely small and undeveloped at birth. At birth, they take a long, arduous journey from the birth canal, driven purely by instinct, grabbing hold of the mother marsupial's fur which she has cleaned and made easier to traverse with saliva, to reach the pouch. Upon reaching the pouch, they latch onto a teat which swells in their mouth to prevent them from being accidentally dislodged during the mother's movements. There they stay for months, to complete their development.

Not all marsupials have pouches, e.g. the numbat has a mere flap of skin, but in animals where the pouch is absent, the young are still born undeveloped, and they cling by instinct to the underside of their mother's belly, still firmly attached to teats which swell in their mouths.

Female marsupials have two vaginas, or what are called paired lateral vaginae. These are for the purpose of transporting the sperm to the womb, but there is a midline pseudovaginal canal for actually giving birth. As well as two vaginas and two uteruses, female marsupials have two fallopian tubes and two cervixes. Most male marsupials, with the exception of the largest species, the Red Kangaroo, Eastern Grey and Western Grey Kangaroos, have a "bifurcated" or two-pronged penis to accommodate the females' two vaginas.

Members of the marsupial family include (among others):

  • kangaroo
  • wallaroo
  • wallaby
  • numbat
  • Tasmanian devil
  • koala
  • possum and glider
  • opossum
  • pademelon
  • wombat
  • cuscus
  • quokka
  • quoll
  • bettong
  • tuan / phascogale
  • antechinus
  • planigale
  • bandicoot
  • bilby
  • dunnart
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12y ago

animals that keep their young in a pouch - like kangaroos and koalas.

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9y ago

Marsupial is a group of mammals. These mammals live throughout Australasia.

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10y ago

Yes, all marsupials give birth very early and raise their young in pouches for many weeks.

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11y ago

KANGAROO and KOALA. thats all i know!

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Q: What group of animals are marsupials?
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Related questions

What group includes marsupials monotremes and placental animals?

Marsupials, monotremes and placental animals are members of the group known as mammals, or Mammalia.


What are the different animals of each group?

invertebrates,marsupials


How are kangaroos and opossums different?

Kangaroos and opossums both belong to the group of animals known as marsupials.


What mammal group do kangaroos koalas and possums belong in?

These animals are all classified in the mammal group known as marsupials.


What are animals with pouches called?

It is called a maripul. (Not sure if that's the right spelling) Marsupials. ^^


What group of animals do opossums belong to?

Opossums are mammals: specifically, they are marsupials.


What is the group of mammals called that kangaroos and koalas belong to?

Koalas, kangaroos, and opossums are marsupials.


Do marsupials kill farm animals?

No. Marsupials are not predators of farm animals.


What group of mammals do animals with pouches belong?

Animals with pouches are the marsupials and includes kangaroos, opossums, koalas, wombats, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, etc.


Are quolls predators?

Yes, quolls are predators. They belong to a group of animals known as the dasyurids, which are carnivorous marsupials. Quolls prey on smaller mammals and marsupials, birds, lizards and smaller snakes.


Which group of animals do koala bears come under?

Firstly, koalas are not bears. It is incorrect to refer to them as "koala bears".Koalas belong to the group of animals known as marsupials, and they are the only extant species in their family.


What is a group of warm blooded animals with fur or hair called?

All mammals including the sub groups marsupials and monotremes.