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Amazingly Marvelous Marsupials! Part 6

Published on 11/02/2025

By: luvbugnmama1

1722

Nature

Marsupials are one of three main types of mammals, along with egg-laying monotremes and placental mammals. They are often called "pouched mammals" because they give birth to underdeveloped young, often known as "joeys," which grow in a pouch for protection and milk. About 70% of marsupials live in Australia and nearby islands, while their ancestors actually first appeared in the Americas. There are around 330 species of marsupials, organized into subgroups. Active Wild is my source for this series.

1. The quokka is a small macropod about the size of a domestic cat. It is the only member of the genus Setonix. Like other marsupials in the macropod family, the quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal. The quokka's range is a small area of southwestern Australia. Tourists visit Rottnest Island, which lies around 12 miles west of Perth, to view the island's resident quokkas. The island's name means "rat's nest" in Dutch. It was named this after Dutch sailors mistook the island's quokkas for rats. Does this marsupial look like a rat to you?

Yes

Undecided

2. The numbat is a small, termite-eating marsupial from Australia known for being one of the few diurnal marsupials. Also called the banded anteater, it is reddish-brown with white stripes and has a long snout for digging out termites. These animals are solitary, and their primary predators are foxes and feral cats, which has led to conservation efforts and reintroductions in Western Australia. With only about 1,000 of these animals left in the wild, would you be interested in helping with conservation efforts for them?

Yes

Undecided

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