Marsupials: Animals with pouches

How long are marsupials pregnant?

The gestation period of marsupials varies between species, but all of them are relatively short compared to placental mammals.

The shortest gestation period of marsupials is that of the bilby, which lasts only 12 days. The longest is that of the swamp wallaby-38 days.

Kangaroos are only pregnant for about 28 days.

Koalas' gestation period is on the longer end, about 35 days.

When young marsupials are born, they are in a very premature state compared to placental mammals. While many baby mammals like horses and giraffes are capable of walking on their own within a few hours or minutes, newborn marsupials are virtually helpless. Opossums, for example, are born hairless and blind, weighing less than a dime.

But baby marsupials have a difficult first task. They must climb into their mother's pouches all on their own. It's not just a slow but steady climb-it's more like a race, considering many marsupial moms don't have enough space in their pouches for all their newborns. Some don't make it. The fortunate ones attach themselves to their mother's teats, which firmly fasten to the babies' mouths. They remain in the pouch for weeks to months, until they are weaned off their mother's milk.

Where do marsupials live?

Today, marsupials are found in parts of Southeast Asia, Oceania, South America, and North America. This includes Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania, the Maluku Islands, Timor, Sulawesi, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands-as well as in Mexico, Central America, much of South America, and the eastern US.

Though they aren't native to these areas, marsupials have been introduced by humans to the US Pacific coast and New Zealand.

Australia hosts the most marsupials, as it is home to two-thirds of all marsupial species-over 330 in total. South America is home to about one-third of marsupial species. Perhaps the most well-known marsupials, kangaroos and koalas, are found only in Australia.

Do male marsupials have pouches?

Generally, no, male marsupials don't have pouches. Only females have them, because they are the ones protecting the young. However, in one living marsupial species, males have pouches-the water opossum. These swimmers have evolved pouches to protect their reproductive parts while in the water. Male Tasmanian tigers-an extinct marsupial species-also had pouches.

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