An inventory of marsupials with footage and information. Included are well-known and fascinating examples of the principle forms of marsupials.
Examples Of Marsupials
Examples of marsupials embrace kangaroos, wallabies, possums, bandicoots, quolls, wombats, tree kangaroos, Antechinus, dunnarts, bettongs, the koala, quokka, sugar glider, Tasmanian satan and Virginia opossum.
Within the listing of marsupials under you’ll discover footage and information on these and extra marsupial species.
Web page Index
Introduction To Marsupials
(Click on right here to go on to the Checklist of Marsupials)
Marsupials comprise one in every of three fundamental mammal teams (the others being the egg-laying monotremes, and the placental mammals, together with people).
Marsupials are also called “pouched mammals”. Not like placental mammals, marsupials give delivery to comparatively undeveloped younger, which in lots of marsupial species are often known as “joeys”.
After being born, a younger marsupial undergoes additional growth in a particular pouch in its mom’s physique. Right here it is protected against predators and the setting, and has entry to its mom’s milk.
A lot of the world’s marsupial species (round 70%) are discovered on the continent of Australia and close by islands. The very first marsupials, nonetheless, advanced in the Americas.
Outdoors of Australia, most of immediately’s marsupials are present in South America (just one species, the Virginia Opossum, is discovered additional north than Mexico).
In complete, there are round 330 marsupial species. They make up the infraclass Marsupiala. Like another giant animal teams, Marsupiala is cut up into subgroups corresponding to orders and households.
Sorts Of Marsupials
A number of the better-known forms of marsupials embrace: antechinus, bandicoots, bettongs, dunnarts, gliders, kangaroos, opossums, possums, quolls and wombats.
An instance species from every main group has been included within the listing of marsupials under.
Checklist Of Marsupials
Brown Antechinus
- Scientific identify: Antechinus stuartii
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Australia
The brown antechinus is one in every of 15 at present acknowledged antechinus species. This home mouse-sized marsupial has a pointed snout, rounded ears, and a tail the identical size as its physique (between 9 and 13 cm / 3.54 and 5.12 in.)
The brown antechinus is nocturnal and arboreal (tree-dwelling). Females reside in communal nests in bushes. The species is present in forests in japanese Australia.
As with all antechinus, the males die shortly after their first mating season. (Females normally produce two or three litters of their lifetimes.)
Feminine brown antechinus lack a real pouch. As an alternative, a flap of pores and skin covers the teats and protects the younger as they develop.
Frequent Brushtail Possum
- Scientific identify: Trichosurus vulpecula
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Australia (launched to New Zealand)
The widespread brushtail possum is a cat-sized, nocturnal, arboreal (tree-dwelling) possum discovered throughout a lot of mainland Australia, in addition to on Tasmania and several other smaller islands. The species inhabits forests and woodlands and can be present in cities and cities, the place it’s usually seen foraging in gardens and parks.
The widespread brushtail possum is an launched species in New Zealand, the place it’s now thought of a pest as a result of harm may cause to crops and the adverse impact its presence has had on native wildlife.
Frequent Ringtail Possum
- Scientific identify: Pseudocheirus peregrinus
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Australia
The widespread ringtail possum is present in north japanese, japanese and south japanese Australia and is current on Tasmania. It’s arboreal (tree-dwelling), and normally present in moist forests and scrublands. The species can be present in city areas.
The widespread ringtail possum produces particular edible droppings in the course of the day. Consuming these droppings permits the species to get the utmost profit from the meals it eats.
The distinctive, white-tipped tail of the widespread ringtail possum is prehensile (in a position to grip), and is used as a fifth hand when the animal is climbing.
Frequent Wombat
- Scientific identify: Vombatus ursinus
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Australia
The widespread wombat is one in every of three dwelling species of wombat (the opposite two are the southern hairy-nosed wombat and the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat.) The widespread wombat will be recognized by its comparatively giant, hairless nostril.
The species is stockily constructed, with a physique size of round 1 m / 3.28 ft. Weighing across the identical as a Labrador, the widespread wombat is among the world’s largest burrowing animals. Though a largely solitary species, a number of widespread wombats will typically share the identical giant tunnel methods.
The species is present in temperate, moist forests and shrublands in south japanese Australia.
- You could find out extra about wombats on this web page: Wombat Details
Japanese Barred Bandicoot
- Scientific identify: Perameles gunnii
- Conservation standing: Weak
- The place discovered: Australia
The japanese barred bandicoot is a rabbit-sized marsupial with yellow-brown fur and three or 4 darker brown bars on its rump (the “bars” within the species’ identify).
The species is discovered on Tasmania and in two areas in Victoria. The mainland populations are reintroductions aimed toward stopping the extinction of the species on the mainland.
The introduction of non-native species (specifically the pink fox) brought on the preliminary decline of the japanese barred bandicoot on the mainland.
Japanese Bettong
- Scientific identify: Bettongia gaimardi
- Conservation standing: Close to Threatened
- The place discovered: Australia
The japanese bettong is native to Tasmania and southeastern mainland Australia. The mainland inhabitants turned extinct because of the introduction of non-native species (specifically the pink fox).
The species is one in every of 4 dwelling bettongs (5 together with the rufous bettong, also called the rat kangaroo, which belongs to a special genus). Bettongs belong to the identical household, Potoroidae, because the potoroos and the rufous bettong / rat-kangaroo.
The japanese bettong is a rabbit-sized, nocturnal marsupial that strikes by hopping.
Japanese Caenolestid
- Scientific identify: Caenolestes sangay
- Conservation standing: Weak
- The place discovered: South America
The japanese caenolestid is one in every of seven species of shrew opossum. These small, shrew-like marsupials make up the household Caenolestidae. All are discovered on and across the Andes in South America. Shrew opossums are thought to have branched off from different marsupials early on within the evolution of marsupials.
The scientific identify of the japanese caenolestid, Caenolestes sangay, refers to Sangay, an energetic volcano in Ecuador. The japanese caenolestid was first found within the Sangay Nationwide Park, a park that incorporates Sangay and one other energetic volcano, Tungurahua.
Japanese Gray Kangaroo
- Scientific identify: Macropus giganteus
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Australia
The japanese gray kangaroo is the second-largest dwelling marsupial; solely the pink kangaroo is bigger. Males are bigger than females and sometimes attain weights of 66 kg / 146 lb.; some people are considerably bigger. The species has a delicate, pale grey coat.
A social animal, the japanese gray kangaroo normally lives in teams of three or extra people. Bigger teams can type when meals is plentiful. (A gaggle of kangaroos is called a “mob”.)
This widespread Australian marsupial is present in habitats starting from grasslands to forests all through a lot of japanese Australia.
Japanese Quoll
- Scientific identify: Dasyurus viverrinus
- Conservation standing: Endangered
- The place discovered: Australia
As soon as present in southeastern mainland Australia, the japanese quoll is now current solely on the island state of Tasmania. The species is one in every of six species of quoll, and one in every of 4 present in Australia (the opposite two are discovered on New Guinea).
The japanese quoll, like different quolls, is a carnivorous marsupial. A nocturnal hunter, it preys on quite a lot of small animals, together with mammals, reptiles, birds and bugs. The species is thought to strategy feeding Tasmanian devils to take scraps of meals.
- You could find out extra about quolls on this web page: Quoll Details
Fats-Tailed Dunnart
- Scientific identify: Sminthopsis crassicaudata
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Australia
The fat-tailed dunnart is a small marsupial present in dry grasslands, deserts and savannas throughout a lot of Australia. It’s one in every of round 20 dunnart species, which collectively make up the genus Sminthopsis.
Dunnarts are mouse-sized marsupials with a food plan that consists primarily of bugs. They belong to the household Dasyuridae, which incorporates a number of different marsupial teams, together with the dasyures, mulgaras, marsupial shrews, antechinus and quolls, in addition to the Kowari and Tasmanian satan.
The fat-tailed dunnart is among the smallest carnivorous marsupials. It hunts at night time, feeding on bugs and small reptiles and mammals. Every night time it consumes its personal physique weight in prey.
In the course of the day it enters a state of hibernation-like torpor to preserve power. It could possibly additionally use power saved within the fats of its tail.
(Higher) Bilby
- Scientific identify: Macrotis lagotis
- Conservation standing: Weak
- The place discovered: Australia
With the extinction of the lesser bilby within the 1950’s, the better bilby turned the one dwelling bilby; subsequently the “better” a part of its identify is commonly dropped.
The better bilby has a most physique size of round 55 cm / 21.65 in. Its fur is pale, blueish-gray in coloration. The species has giant ears and a pointed nostril (the genus identify Macrotis means “big-eared”.) It is usually often known as the rabbit-eared bandicoot.
The better bilby is a nocturnal burrowing animal present in dry grasslands and savannas. An omnivore, its food plan consists of bugs, insect larvae, seeds, bulbs and different plant matter.
The bilby’s closest relations are the bandicoots; it and the bandicoots belong to the marsupial order Peramelemorphia.
- You could find out extra concerning the better bilby on this web page: Bilby Details
Higher Glider
- Scientific identify: Genus Petauroides
- The place discovered: Australia
Till not too long ago, the three species of better glider have been thought of to be subspecies of a single species, Petauroides Volans, which had a conservation standing of Weak.
The three newly-recognized species are: the central better glider (Petauroides armillatus), northern better glider (Petauroides minor) and southern better glider (Petauroides volans).
The better gliders have a pores and skin membrane between their elbows and knees which, when prolonged, permits them to glide from tree to tree.
The southern better glider, which is the dimensions of a home cat, is among the many world’s largest gliding animals.
All three better glider species are present in forests japanese Australia. They’re arboreal (tree-dwelling), nocturnal, and primarily folivorous (leaf-eating).
Koala
- Scientific identify: Phascolarctos cinereus
- Conservation standing: Weak
- The place discovered: Australia
Regardless of being one of the vital well-known marsupials, the koala’s conservation standing is Weak and its inhabitants is lowering. The distinctive grey-haired, furry-eared, black-nosed marsupial is present in forests and woodlands in japanese Australia.
The koala is a solitary, tree-dwelling animal. Its food plan consists primarily of leaves of bushes of genus Eucalyptus. Diversifications to the koala’s enamel and abdomen permit it to reside on the leaves, that are poisonous and low in each power and dietary worth.
- You could find out extra concerning the koala on this web page: Koala Details
Kowari
- Scientific identify: Dasyuroides byrnei
- Conservation standing: Weak
- The place discovered: Australia
The kowari is a small marsupial halfway between a mouse and rat in dimension. It’s gray with a big tuft of bushy black hair on the finish of its tail (the species’ various identify is brush-tailed marsupial rat).
The kowari is present in deserts and shrublands within the Channel Nation within the Australian outback. It lives in burrows, and feeds on bugs and spiders.
Livestock farming in its conventional habitat has brought on a decline within the species’ inhabitants and it’s now rated Weak.
Lumholtz’s Tree-Kangaroo
- Scientific identify: Dendrolagus lumholtzi
- Conservation standing: Close to Threatened
- The place discovered: Australia
Tree kangaroos are a gaggle of kangaroos with diversifications for an arboreal (tree-dwelling) life-style, together with lengthy tails, giant ft and lengthy arms. There are 13 species of tree kangaroo; collectively they make up the genus Dendrolagus.
Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo is one in every of simply two tree kangaroos present in Australia (the opposite being Bennett’s tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus bennettianus). The opposite tree kangaroos are discovered on New Guinea and neighboring islands.
Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo is the smallest tree kangaroo, weighing 7 kg / 15.4 lb. and with a physique and tail size of 1.24 m / 4.1 ft. It’s discovered within the rainforests of Queensland, Australia. The species is solitary outdoors of the mating season, and normally energetic at night time.
Marsupial Moles
- Scientific identify: southern marsupial mole: Notoryctes typhlops
- Scientific identify: northern marsupial mole: Notoryctes caurinus
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Australia
The 2 species of marsupial mole make up the household Notoryctidae. These marsupials spend most of their lives underground in Australia’s sandy deserts and solely not often come to the floor.
Marsupial moles have quite a few diversifications for dwelling underground. They’re blind (their eyes are non-functional and located underneath the pores and skin) and lack exterior ears. Their forelimbs are geared up with particular claws for burrowing by way of the sand. Their pouches face backwards to keep away from sand getting into as they tunnel.
Numbat
- Scientific identify: Myrmecobius fasciatus
- Conservation standing: Endangered
- The place discovered: Australia
The numbat is an endangered marsupial present in forests in Western Australia. It’s squirrel-sized, with reddish-brown fur and several other pale stripes throughout its again.
Unusually for a marsupial, the numbat is diurnal (energetic in the course of the day). Its food plan consists primarily of termites, of which it eats round 20,000 per day. Its tongue is lengthy and sticky for capturing its insect prey.
- You could find out extra concerning the numbat on this web page: Numbat Details
Quokka
- Scientific identify: Setonix brachyurus
- Conservation standing: Weak
- The place discovered: Australia
The quokka is a cat-sized member of the kangaroo household Macropodidae. It’s discovered on a number of islands off the West Australia coast and in plenty of areas in southwest West Australia.
Like many Australian marsupials, the quokka’s mainland inhabitants was negatively affected by the arrival of non-native predators such because the pink fox.
Vacationers go to Rottnest Island, which lies round 12 miles west of Perth, to view the island’s resident quokkas. The island’s identify means “rat’s nest” in Dutch. It was named after Dutch sailors mistook the island’s quokkas for rats.
Like all macropods, the quokka is herbivorous. It strikes by hopping, however will stroll on all 4 limbs when shopping.
- You could find out extra concerning the quokka on this web page: Quokka Details
Purple Kangaroo
- Scientific identify: Osphranter rufus
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Australia
The pink kangaroo will not be solely the most important kangaroo, it’s additionally the most important marsupial and Australia’s largest mammal. A big male pink kangaroo has a physique size of 1.6 m / 5.25 ft, however some people exceed 2 m / 6.56 ft. in physique size. Males are red-brown in coloration; females, that are considerably smaller, are gray-blue.
The pink kangaroo is present in arid (dry) areas throughout a lot of Australia. It’s present in quite a lot of habitats, together with grasslands, savannas, deserts and woodlands. It’s herbivorous, primarily consuming grasses and flowers.
Purple-Necked Wallaby / Bennett’s Wallaby
- Scientific identify: Macropus rufogriseus
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Australia
Kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos (that are in-between kangaroos and wallabies in dimension) and associated species all belong to the identical household, Macropodidae. The 4 largest family members are kangaroos; the identify “wallaby” is given to the smaller family members.
The red-necked wallaby is also called Bennett’s wallaby. It’s present in forests, shrublands and grasslands in japanese mainland Australia and on Tasmania. It has a physique size of round 90 cm / 2.95 ft. Its fur is delicate and grey in coloration, with a reddish tinge, significantly throughout the again of the neck.
Sugar Glider
- Scientific identify: Petaurus breviceps
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Australia, New Guinea
The sugar glider is a small possum that has advanced the power to glide through membranes between the fingers and ft. Gliding from tree to tree (reasonably than climbing) makes use of much less power and can be a way of evading predators.
The sugar glider can glide over distances of as much as 50 m / 164 ft.
The sugar glider has a physique and tail size of round 27 cm / 10.63 in. It’s nocturnal and omnivorous. Its food plan consists of the sap / gum from bushes, and bugs.
Tasmanian Satan
- Scientific identify: Sarcophilus harrisii
- Conservation standing: Endangered
- The place discovered: Australia
The Tasmanian satan is the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial. The dimensions of a small canine (e.g., a Jack Russell), the Tasmanian satan is black in coloration, usually with white patches. It’s a powerfully-built animal, with a proportionally stronger chunk drive than another carnivorous mammal.
Though primarily a scavenger, the Tasmanian satan is ready to hunt its personal prey. Its identify comes from the devilish shrieks produced by squabbling Tasmanian devils.
The Tasmanian satan turned extinct on mainland Australian round 3,000 years in the past, and was solely discovered on Tasmania. It has not too long ago (2020) been reintroduced to the mainland in an try to guard the species from the unfold of a illness that has brought on the Tasmanian satan to turn out to be endangered.
Virginia Opossum
- Scientific identify: Didelphis virginiana
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Central and North America
The Virginia opossum is a marsupial present in Central and North America. With a spread that extends from Costa Rica to Canada, it’s discovered additional north than another marsupial. It’s the solely marsupial present in america and Canada.
A solitary, nocturnal animal, the Virginia opossum is an omnivore whose food plan consists of bugs, small vertebrates, eggs, and carrion. The species is present in quite a lot of habitats, together with forests, shrublands and concrete environments; the Virginia opossum will raid trash cans and is commonly present in backyards and parks.
The time period ‘taking part in possum’ comes from the Virginia opossum’s survival technique of pretending to be lifeless when threatened.
Checklist Of Marsupials: Conclusion
You could find out extra about marsupials and different animals on the next pages:
