Endangered Species

Mammals Facts

  • Mammals are warm-blooded animals.
  • Mammals are born live. Only two mammals hatch from eggs.
  • Mammals drink milk from their mothers.
  • Bats are the only mammals that can fly.
  • Dolphin and whale babies do not sleep the first month of their life.

Marsupials

Marsupials

Marsupials belong to the mammal’s family but they differ from the other mammals because they have an abdominal pouch to carry their young ones. In general marsupials are pouched mammals that carry their young ones in their pouch. Females give birth to undeveloped babies which then climbs to her pouch and develop their, for weeks some even months.

Female marsupials have a yolk-type placenta this is the main reason for the short gestation period. This placental nourish the baby embryo with the help of mothers blood supply.

The young ones are blind at birth without fur. They have a partially formed hindlimbs and have well developed forelimbs which make them to take their way to their mothers pouch soon after the birth. The mother milk changes depending on the young ones development stage.

The biggest marsupial in the earth is the red kangaroo which is to the size of a human. The smallest marsupial in the world is the Pilbara which can fit in a person hand.

The commonly known marsupials are:

  • Kangaroo
  • Opossum
  • Tasmanian devil
  • Koala

Marsupials are the oldest animals in the earth since they live in the dinosaur’s period. Generally marsupials are omnivores. Marsupials mostly inhabit Australia the islands around Australia. And some can be found in north, central and south America.

Difference between mammals and marsupials

Marsupials differ from other mammals in the way how they look after their baby. Most of the mammals are placental that is mothers develops a placenta when she has a baby inside to feed the baby. So those babies are born when they are fully developed. For example baby giraffe can walk a few hours after its birth.

Marsupials differ from other mammals in the way how they look after their baby. Most of the mammals are placental that is mothers develops a placenta when she has a baby inside to feed the baby. So those babies are born when they are fully developed. For example baby giraffe can walk a few hours after its birth.

But marsupials are completely different. The baby marsupials are born when they are tiny and undeveloped. When a marsupial is born it straight away move to its mothers pouch if the baby marsupial does not go there it will die. The baby will live in the pouch until it is fully developed and is ready to face the outside world. This may take weeks or some may even take months depending on the species.

Kinds of marsupials

There are 334 types of marsupials grouped under 7 orders. They are:

  • Opossoms – These are called Dipelphimorphia. These live in trees and eat what they like. The immune system is very strong and they can even withstand a rattlesnake bite. Then any other mammals they have a strong teeth.
  • The Shrew Opossums – These are called Paucituberculata. They also live in South America. They have an appearance as though they are small Opossums
  • The Monito del Monte – Meaning Little Mountain Monkey. It is the only living animal in the Microbiotheria order. It has long, thick and a useful tail but it is about the size of a mouse. It has a different shape mouse.
  • Dasyuromorphia (means "Hairy tail") - This group includes Quolls, Numbats, Tasmanian tiger (or Thylacine), and Tasmanian Devil. Species belonging to this order are mainly carnivores.
  • Notoryctemorphia (Marsupial mole) – There are only two species in this order. Species belonging to this order have a pouch that faces backwards in order to prevent sand from getting in when they burrow the sand dunes.
  • Peramelemorphia – Bibly and other 19 types belong to this order.
  • Diprotodontia – This order includes almost the most famous Australian marsupials. Kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, possums and wombats are some of the well-known species.

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