Nine out of ten species of animals that inhabit Australia are endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else. Of particular interest among them are marsupials. About them will be told today.
Due to the fact that there were no higher mammals on the continent, Australian marsupials, without competition, gave rise to a wide variety of species that almost replaced the biotypes of higher mammals. For example, the now extinct marsupial wolf, having no relationship with an ordinary wolf, successfully occupied its niche, the wombat is almost a marmot, and the marsupial mole and marsupial squirrel surprisingly resemble their prototypes of the same name, not being related to them.
Australia marsupials (list): anteater (nambat)
Marsupial anteaters have a small stature, a sharp muzzle, an elegant motley color and are famous for the fact that their long ten-centimeter tongue is almost half the body in length. Nambats feed on termites, extracting them with their amazing language.
Australian anteaters differ from the rest of the marsupials in that they do not have a brood bag. Centimeter cubs make their way to the maternal nipples and, holding on to the fur, hang for 4 months near them. When the crumbs grow a little (up to 5 cm), the mother leaves them in the shelter and comes to feed only at night.
Australia Marsupials (List): Koala
The herbivorous marsupial koala is a peace-loving animal. Most of all, this bear loves to sleep and eat, spends the rest of the time on eucalyptus trees, clinging motionlessly to a branch. After a very short pregnancy, the koala produces light crumbs that can fit in a teaspoon and weighs 5.5 g. The baby climbs for six months in a bag to his mother, and then, after gaining strength, rides on his mother’s back for some time.
Australia Marsupials (List): Tasmanian Devil
Unlike peaceful and sleepy koalas, the Tasmanian devil, possessing aggressiveness, a stocky body, black color and a huge mouth, has a bad name. He has a bad character. He is able to crush bones with his powerful jaws. Now the Tasmanian devil is Australia's largest marsupial predator. True, along with small animals, birds and snakes, he easily eats plant tubers and edible roots. A special place in the diet of the devil is rotten decayed meat of dead animals.
The female brings up to 30 cubs, and, as a rule, gets to her bag no more than 4. She feeds them up to 5 months of age, after which the offspring switches to an independent lifestyle.
Marsupial animals (list): marsupial flying squirrel
Flying squirrels are small (up to 30 cm) animals that live in hollows in groups. They can fly from tree to tree with the help of flying membranes between their paws, covering a distance of up to 60 m. They lead a nocturnal lifestyle.
Marsupial proteins feed on the sweet juice of eucalyptus or acania, as well as worms, crickets and, of course, fruits. These cheerful and friendly animals are loved by locals to keep in their homes.
Other Australia Marsupials: List
Of course, talking about Australia, you can not miss the kangaroo, but a lot has been said about them. In the same article, for the story, a list of rarely described animals was chosen, although there is also a marsupial mole, marsupial mouse, bandicoot, cowery, wombat and couscous. All of them are worthy of attention.