Marsupial
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
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Marsupials are mammals that are found mostly in Australia. The only living marsupial in America is the opossum. They are relatively small compared to other mammals, the smallest species being less than 4 inches long, to the largest kangaroo, the Red Kangaroo, which can grow to be up to 6 feet tall. The Red Kangaroo is disputably the largest marsupial alive presently. Marsupials are best-known for and made most distinguishable by their method of nursing. All female marsupials give "premature" birth, wherein the young will stay until maturing, after which the mother will die. The nursing occurs within the mother's pouch, a structure designed by God to aid in nursing the child, by protecting the infant marsupial until it has completed it's nursing.[1]
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Anatomy
What sets all marsupials apart from all other mammals is their anatomy and their reproductive procedures. What distinguishes marsupials from all other mammals is that they alone have their signature pouches. These pouches are present in both the male and female physiologies. While the female uses the pouch for carrying and nursing the young, the male uses it for carrying food and other items. Humans have a 180-degree vision span, but marsupials have a 300-degree vision span.[2]
Reproduction
Reproduction in marsupials is extremely diverse, and the procedures carried out by the organisms contained within this grouping are strange and bizarre. However, more uniformly, all marsupials are born with pouches. In males, they use them to transport food and other items, as well as to protect the young, should the mother leave. In females, the pouch is primarily used for nursing, and so that the baby can nurse and remain protected. The male and female will mate, and then after 4-7 weeks, the female will give birth prematurely, and the baby will crawl up to the pouch and attach itself to the teats. There it will stay, and it may very well stay until it is as big or bigger than the mother. This seems inconceivable, but so does their reproductive procedure.[3]
Ecology
As for the marsupials in general, when it comes to their niches, the groups are broad. Nearly all of the marsupials are herbivores, and for the most part, the smaller marsupials are carnivores. The only marsupial that lives above Mexico is the Virginian Opossum, otherwise, they all live south, and live primarily in Australia. For instance, out of over 330 species, over 200 are found in Australia!
Interaction, Survial, and Endangerment
The wallaby kangaroo is unfortunately on the list of endangered species.[5]
Gallery
 Quokka (S. brachyurus) Genus: Setonix |
 Common-name (species name) Subtaxa: name |
Common-name (species name) Subtaxa: name |
Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) Subtaxa: name |
Related References
- Berkeley University Marsupial Mammals
- Wikipedia Marsupials
- Enchanted Learning Marsupial Printouts
- Enchanted Learning Endangered Marsupials
