Koala

The Koala, native marsupials of Australia, are herbivores that live in trees. They can be found only in eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia, feeding on the leaves and flowers of certain species of eucalyptus. Koalas are protected by law in Australia.

Kathie Atkinson/Oxford Scientific Films

Bandicoot

The golden bandicoot, a marsupial, or pouched mammal, lives only in Australia. Golden bandicoots are distinguished from all other marsupials by the presence of fused toes on the hind legs, which act as grooming devices.

Kathie Atkinson/Oxford Scientific Films

Wombat

The wombat is only found in northern Queensland and southeastern and south central Australia, Flinders Island, and Tasmania. It lives in temperate forests, mountainous areas, or open uncultivated rangelands with poor, coarse soils. All wombats live in extensive, complex burrows, which they excavate with their short, powerful legs and strong claws. In some areas of Australia, wombats are considered pests, because their digging damages rabbit-proof fencing.

John Cooke/Oxford Scientific Films

Opossum

The Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana, is found in North, Central, and South America. Highly adaptable, this opossum thrives in woodlands, farmlands, and even in towns and cities. Although generally terrestrial, it occasionally nests in hollow trees.

Pat and Tom Leeson/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian devil, exterminated on the Australian mainland, is now found only on the island of Tasmania. A carnivorous marsupial, the Tasmanian devil is capable of completely consuming birds and small- to medium-sized mammals, including all the bones.

Tom McHugh/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Parma Wallaby in Pouch

Although this two-month-old parma wallaby joey is safely curled up in its mother’s pouch and will be for several more months, not all marsupial young enjoy such complete protection. The pouches of other marsupials, including the opossum and many Australian carnivores, are simply ridges of skin surrounding the nipples. As soon as the young are able to open their jaws and release the nipple, they are left in a nest while the mother forages for food. Marsupials weigh less than 1 g (0.035 oz) at birth, a fact that makes their first blind journey to the pouch seem all the more hazardous.

Kathie Atkinson/Oxford Scientific Films

Web links

Marsupial Mammals