Oceanic Marsupials
The most well known of marsupials live in Australia. Marsupials such as Koalas or Kangaroos have become famous all across the world, but how many people do you think you about the other marsupials in Australia? How many people have even heard of Quolls, Bilbies, or Bandicoots?
There are four types of Australian marsupials; carnivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous, and scavanging. Most people group the carnivourous and scavanging marsupials together, but I differentiate them by how they obtain their meat. Carnivorous marsupials, in my opinion, are marsupials that hunt for their food, and scavanging marsupials eat the meat of already dead animals. Herbivores are animals that only eat plants, and omnivores are animals that eat everything, meat, pleants, even rubbish.
There are four types of Australian marsupials; carnivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous, and scavanging. Most people group the carnivourous and scavanging marsupials together, but I differentiate them by how they obtain their meat. Carnivorous marsupials, in my opinion, are marsupials that hunt for their food, and scavanging marsupials eat the meat of already dead animals. Herbivores are animals that only eat plants, and omnivores are animals that eat everything, meat, pleants, even rubbish.
Carnivorous Marsupials
Carnivorous marsupials are widespread and plentiful in Australia. Marsupials in this grouping include Numbats, Mulgaras, Quolls, and even the extinct Thylacine.
Numbats are small rodent-like marsupials. They are insectivores, which means that their meat of choice is that of insects such as termites. Numbats do not have pouches, instead their young attach thmeselves to their mother's nipples. Numbats are active during the day and are very good climbers. They live in forests of Eucalyptus trees in south-western Australia where they can hide from predetors, seek shelter, and find termites to eat. Numbats are critically endangered, with approximately 1,500 individuals left in the wild. The main reasons for their engangered status is because of Australia's introduced species, like housecats and foxes.
Another carnivorous marsupial is the Mulgara; a marsupial "mouse". They are not at all related to the true mouse, but they look quite similar. Marsupial mice, also called dunnarts, ningauis, phascogales, antechiuses, and more, are insectivorous. They like to chomp on worms, spiders, and insects. However, they also eat small animals and birds. Some species can store excess fat in their tails.
Quolls, often mistaken for ordinary housecats, are omnivorous. But they are not at all related to house cats, they had just experienced a convergent evolution. Quolls are nocturnal marsupials that eat insects, smaller marsupials, and other small animals. They have become rare on the mainland, but also live on Tasmania and New Guinea. Although quolls have been seen in trees, they primarily get around on the ground.
Another Australian carnivorous marsupial is one that has been extinct (though there are some people that believe they aren't) since the late 1930's. It is called the Thylacine. The Thylacine is similar to the wolf in appearance and hunting tactics, and has stripes like a tiger along it's back, which is why it is often dubbed the "Tasmania Tiger". It used to be widespread all throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania, but then they were threatened when people from Asia and Indonesia brought dogs with them to Australia and when European settlers hunted them down. Europeans not only hunted them down for their pelts, but also because they considered them pests. Thylacines were hunted into extinction, the last lnown Thylacine died in captivity in the 1930's. Some people still believe that Thylacines still roam the Earth, possibly in the thick jungles of Tasmania.
Numbats are small rodent-like marsupials. They are insectivores, which means that their meat of choice is that of insects such as termites. Numbats do not have pouches, instead their young attach thmeselves to their mother's nipples. Numbats are active during the day and are very good climbers. They live in forests of Eucalyptus trees in south-western Australia where they can hide from predetors, seek shelter, and find termites to eat. Numbats are critically endangered, with approximately 1,500 individuals left in the wild. The main reasons for their engangered status is because of Australia's introduced species, like housecats and foxes.
Another carnivorous marsupial is the Mulgara; a marsupial "mouse". They are not at all related to the true mouse, but they look quite similar. Marsupial mice, also called dunnarts, ningauis, phascogales, antechiuses, and more, are insectivorous. They like to chomp on worms, spiders, and insects. However, they also eat small animals and birds. Some species can store excess fat in their tails.
Quolls, often mistaken for ordinary housecats, are omnivorous. But they are not at all related to house cats, they had just experienced a convergent evolution. Quolls are nocturnal marsupials that eat insects, smaller marsupials, and other small animals. They have become rare on the mainland, but also live on Tasmania and New Guinea. Although quolls have been seen in trees, they primarily get around on the ground.
Another Australian carnivorous marsupial is one that has been extinct (though there are some people that believe they aren't) since the late 1930's. It is called the Thylacine. The Thylacine is similar to the wolf in appearance and hunting tactics, and has stripes like a tiger along it's back, which is why it is often dubbed the "Tasmania Tiger". It used to be widespread all throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania, but then they were threatened when people from Asia and Indonesia brought dogs with them to Australia and when European settlers hunted them down. Europeans not only hunted them down for their pelts, but also because they considered them pests. Thylacines were hunted into extinction, the last lnown Thylacine died in captivity in the 1930's. Some people still believe that Thylacines still roam the Earth, possibly in the thick jungles of Tasmania.
Herbivorous Marsupials
Herbivorous marsupials are a common sight in Australia with many species in the two suborders Vombatiformes and Phalangerida. In the suborder Vombatiformes there are tree species of Wombats and a single species of Koala. In the suborder Phalangerida there are six families of possums and three families of macropods (meaning large footed).
Wombats are cute box-shaped marsupials that walk on four stumpy legs. But, don't take it's cute appearance for granted; wombats are tough critters. They can reach speeds of 25mph and can maintain it for about 90 seconds--just enough time to dive into their burrow and plug up the entrance with their tough, square bottoms. They also have an extremely slow metabloisms, which is very useful when food is scarce. They mostly feed on grasses, bark, and roots.
The koala, or koala bear, is not really a bear. It is a marsupial that the first Europeans mistakened for a bear when they first landed on Australia. They are the iconic and cute (but not always cuddly!) marsupials of Australia. They're an arboreal species, so their diet consists entirely of Eucalyptus leaves. However, Eucalyptus leaves are incredibaly hard to digest, so koalas sleep for 20 or more hours a day, waking up only to eat or mate. Koalas have a backwards facing pouch, which is odd since they live in trees, but scientists believe that the reason for this is so that the baby koalas in the mother's pouch can eat their mother's feces and therefore obtain the stomach enzymes needed to digest Eucalyptus in the future. As previously said, koalas spend most of their time sleeping in trees, which means that sometimes they just- PLOP!- out. This has lead to the mythological Dropbear of Australian folklore, telling of a large koala-like creature that preys on unaware tourists. Most Australians like to prank the unknowing foreigners with tales of Dropbears, "informing" them of the only way to "prevent" a Dropbear attack it to put Vegimite, a foul smelling spread, behind their ears. Apparently, Dropbears don't really like the smell-- and I don't blame them!
Another iconic marsupial is the well-beloved Kangaroo. Kangaroos and Wallabies have no genetic differance between them, one is just smaller than the other, so I will be writing about both of them, reffering to them both as kangaroos. Kangaroos are called Macropods, "macro" meaning "large" and "pod" meaning "foot". Kangaroos mainly eat the grasses that grow in the Australian Outback, or Bush, and will spend most of the day grazing in groups called mobs. These mobs have a hierarchy; the alpha male, called a boomer, is the leader and he alone can mate with the females in his mob. Occasionally, a young and arrogant kangaroo will challange him to a fight. If the boomer wins, the younger kangaroo will be shamed and possibly banished, but if the boomer loses, the younger kangaroo will drive him from the mob and become the alpha kangaroo himself. Kangaroos are often seen hopping from place to place. This is because their legs are fused together, therefore must move together. Their method of movement is effecient, the faster they go, the less energy they use.
Wombats are cute box-shaped marsupials that walk on four stumpy legs. But, don't take it's cute appearance for granted; wombats are tough critters. They can reach speeds of 25mph and can maintain it for about 90 seconds--just enough time to dive into their burrow and plug up the entrance with their tough, square bottoms. They also have an extremely slow metabloisms, which is very useful when food is scarce. They mostly feed on grasses, bark, and roots.
The koala, or koala bear, is not really a bear. It is a marsupial that the first Europeans mistakened for a bear when they first landed on Australia. They are the iconic and cute (but not always cuddly!) marsupials of Australia. They're an arboreal species, so their diet consists entirely of Eucalyptus leaves. However, Eucalyptus leaves are incredibaly hard to digest, so koalas sleep for 20 or more hours a day, waking up only to eat or mate. Koalas have a backwards facing pouch, which is odd since they live in trees, but scientists believe that the reason for this is so that the baby koalas in the mother's pouch can eat their mother's feces and therefore obtain the stomach enzymes needed to digest Eucalyptus in the future. As previously said, koalas spend most of their time sleeping in trees, which means that sometimes they just- PLOP!- out. This has lead to the mythological Dropbear of Australian folklore, telling of a large koala-like creature that preys on unaware tourists. Most Australians like to prank the unknowing foreigners with tales of Dropbears, "informing" them of the only way to "prevent" a Dropbear attack it to put Vegimite, a foul smelling spread, behind their ears. Apparently, Dropbears don't really like the smell-- and I don't blame them!
Another iconic marsupial is the well-beloved Kangaroo. Kangaroos and Wallabies have no genetic differance between them, one is just smaller than the other, so I will be writing about both of them, reffering to them both as kangaroos. Kangaroos are called Macropods, "macro" meaning "large" and "pod" meaning "foot". Kangaroos mainly eat the grasses that grow in the Australian Outback, or Bush, and will spend most of the day grazing in groups called mobs. These mobs have a hierarchy; the alpha male, called a boomer, is the leader and he alone can mate with the females in his mob. Occasionally, a young and arrogant kangaroo will challange him to a fight. If the boomer wins, the younger kangaroo will be shamed and possibly banished, but if the boomer loses, the younger kangaroo will drive him from the mob and become the alpha kangaroo himself. Kangaroos are often seen hopping from place to place. This is because their legs are fused together, therefore must move together. Their method of movement is effecient, the faster they go, the less energy they use.
Omnivorous Marsupials
Potoroos and Possums are just two names of marsupials that eat both plants and animals.
Potoroos are small rat-like animals that feast on insects and fungi, as well as grasses and roots. All three species of potoroos (which are in the Macropod group) are threatened. In fact, Gilbert's Potoroo is the single most endangered animal on the Australian continent. It was actually thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994 near Albany.
The Australian Possum, not to be mistaken with the American Oppossum, is another omnivorous marsupial. Possums mostly eat fruits, leaves, seeds and grasses, but also eat insects, eggs, and young birds. Possums have prehensile tails that act like an extra limb and help them to get from branch to branch. With these tails they can also hang upside-down while eating pieces of fruit. They have opposable toes, not unlike our own thumbs, which make it very easy for them to climb tall trees.
Potoroos are small rat-like animals that feast on insects and fungi, as well as grasses and roots. All three species of potoroos (which are in the Macropod group) are threatened. In fact, Gilbert's Potoroo is the single most endangered animal on the Australian continent. It was actually thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994 near Albany.
The Australian Possum, not to be mistaken with the American Oppossum, is another omnivorous marsupial. Possums mostly eat fruits, leaves, seeds and grasses, but also eat insects, eggs, and young birds. Possums have prehensile tails that act like an extra limb and help them to get from branch to branch. With these tails they can also hang upside-down while eating pieces of fruit. They have opposable toes, not unlike our own thumbs, which make it very easy for them to climb tall trees.
Scavanging Marsupials
Scavanging marsupiaks are marsupials that like to dine on an already dead animal; they're not hunters.
An example of a scavenger is the Tasmanian Devil (no, not Taz from the Looney Tunes!). The Tasmanian Devil is a small dog-like marsupial that lives only on Tasmania, an island off the coast of mainland Australia. Itused to live on the mainland too, but is thought to be extinct there because of Indonesian people and their dogs settling there. Tasmanian Devils are not rwally devils, they just got that name from the way that they always seem to be fighting and hissing. They rarely hurt each other on purpose in their fights, usually just playfighting. The only real fights occur when they are fighting over food, territory, or mates. There are a lot of devils on Tasmania, however a certain type of facial cancer is attacking large populations and is thought to be contagious. The cancer grows on the face until the devil either suffocates or starves to death. Scientists are currently searching for the cause of the cancer and any possible cures.
An example of a scavenger is the Tasmanian Devil (no, not Taz from the Looney Tunes!). The Tasmanian Devil is a small dog-like marsupial that lives only on Tasmania, an island off the coast of mainland Australia. Itused to live on the mainland too, but is thought to be extinct there because of Indonesian people and their dogs settling there. Tasmanian Devils are not rwally devils, they just got that name from the way that they always seem to be fighting and hissing. They rarely hurt each other on purpose in their fights, usually just playfighting. The only real fights occur when they are fighting over food, territory, or mates. There are a lot of devils on Tasmania, however a certain type of facial cancer is attacking large populations and is thought to be contagious. The cancer grows on the face until the devil either suffocates or starves to death. Scientists are currently searching for the cause of the cancer and any possible cures.