Marsupial
Marsupial
A Marsupial is a type of mammal characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. They are part of the Infraclass Marsupialia, which is further divided into seven orders.
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Marsupials have a unique reproductive system in which the female has two uteruses, unlike placental mammals which have one. The young, often called a joey, is born at a very early stage of development and crawls out of the uterus and into the mother's pouch. There, it latches onto a nipple and continues to develop.
Distribution and Diversity[edit | edit source]
Marsupials are found primarily in Australia and New Guinea, but also in America, particularly South America. They range in size from tiny shrew-like species to the large kangaroos and wallabies. The most well-known marsupials include the koala, wombat, and Tasmanian devil.
Evolution[edit | edit source]
The exact evolutionary history of marsupials is still a subject of debate among scientists. However, it is generally agreed that marsupials originated in South America and then spread to other parts of the world.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
Marsupial Resources | ||
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