What do marsupial mammals eat. Some marsupials of Australia: list and characteristics. Paper from marsupial feces

Australia is the continent of the Southern Hemisphere, washed by the waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans, the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich is occupied by the state of the same name. The fauna of this continent is unique in its own way, because for a long time it was isolated from the outside world.

A feature of the Australian fauna is the complete absence of monkeys, ruminants and thick-skinned mammals. But instead of these species, marsupials live in Australia, which will be discussed.

Who are the marsupials?

This class of animal is unique in that they have a fold of skin on their belly, similar to a pocket or pouch that holds their nipples. marsupials born small, blind and do not have wool. This is where a warm and cozy mother's bag comes to the rescue, where the kids eat and develop until they can see and move independently. They begin to briefly emerge from the pouch at the age of a few months, and finally leave it at the age of one year. These unusual animals live exclusively in Australia, being its hallmark.

List of marsupials

Other marsupials of Australia

marsupial flying squirrel or sugar possum - a marsupial mammal that lives in trees. It owes its unusual name to its ability to glide through the air and its irrepressible craving for sweets. Do not confuse it with the flying squirrel. The habitat of this animal is eucalyptus forests.

This is a small and incredibly light animal: the length of its body can reach up to 40 cm, of which from 16 to 20 cm is given to the fluffy tail. Sugar possum weighs 90-160 grams, and males are larger than females. The ears of the marsupial flying squirrel resemble locators - they are able to turn in the direction of the sound. Animals leading a nocturnal lifestyle are very good at navigating in the dark thanks to their bulging eyes.

The fingers of the flying squirrel are equipped with claws that help it stay on the branches and get insect larvae under the bark of trees. During the day, the animals rest in nests located on trees, and at night they go out to fish. They feed mainly on insects, and indulge themselves for dessert. sweet acacia juice, fruit or pollen. With the advent of winter, flying squirrels hibernate. In nature, their life expectancy is 7-8 years. Due to their cute appearance, they have received the status of pets and in captivity can live up to 12 years.

And this is not yet a complete list of marsupials that live on the mainland called Australia.

As the name implies, marsupials are called marsupials because of the presence of a certain bag. This is a special fold of skin on the abdomen of an exclusively female individual, in which the female carries her cubs. Mammals possess this method of rearing offspring, most of which, with rare exceptions, live in Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea and adjacent islands.

The first marsupials appeared on the mainland of South America, from there they spread to other continents. Approximately 120 million years ago, evolutionary development divided viviparous mammals into 2 branches according to the method of childbearing - marsupials, bearing offspring in the skin fold, and placental, that is, producing developed offspring thanks to the embryonic placenta. Subsequently, placental animals replaced marsupials from most continents. Marsupials came to Australia 50 million years ago, when South America, Antarctica and Australia were interconnected. After the separation of the Australian continent, a powerful evolutionary development took place, which resulted in the appearance of representatives of all marsupials in Australia, modern and extinct by now.

Complete geographical isolation and various climatic conditions created fertile ground for the conservation and development of the class of marsupials, some of which have survived to this day. Previously, large herbivorous marsupials, the size of a rhinoceros, and large predatory marsupial lions lived in Australia. The independent development of the continent's ecosystem has created a diversity of species that is not inferior to placental ones. Marsupials of Australia live in trees and in burrows, lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle and plan in the air, eat plant and animal food. Some species of marsupials are outwardly similar to placentals from other continents and occupy the same ecological niches, which is an example of convergence, that is, similarities in the evolutionary development of separate groups living in similar conditions.

In Australia, several orders of marsupials are distinguished. The smallest of them (marsupial mice) are no more than 10 cm long with a tail, the largest modern representatives are gray kangaroos, reaching 3 meters. All of them share a number of common features. First of all, this is the presence of a bag, which, depending on the type, opens in front or behind. Cubs are born after a short pregnancy in an extremely underdeveloped state, further development takes place in the mother's bag, where the nipples with nutritious milk are located. A newborn cub crawls into the bag on its own, grabs the nipple and hangs on it. The female, with the help of special muscles, controls the injection of milk into the baby's mouth, since he himself cannot yet suck. The exceptions are marsupial anteaters and some small marsupials that do not have a bag, and the cubs, hanging on the nipples, are attracted to the mother's stomach with the help of the muscles of a special milky field. In some marsupials, for example, the spotted marten, the bag is not permanent, but is formed only when offspring appear; at normal times it is just a fold of skin. Other important differences between marsupials and placental mammals are the special bones of the pelvis (marsupials) and the distinctive structure of the lower jaw. These features allow paleontologists to identify fossils with sufficient certainty.

Predatory marsupials of Australia: small predatory - mice and rats, medium - jerboas and martens. The largest predatory marsupial of our time is the Tasmanian devil, which lives exclusively on the island of Tasmania. Previously, the largest was the marsupial wolf, the thylacine, which became extinct in the 20th century.

marsupial moles

Marsupial moles are the only Australian marsupials that lead an underground lifestyle. The eyes hidden under the skin are rudimentary, instead of ears there are small auditory openings. The coat is soft and beautiful, the nose ends in a horny shield adapted for digging underground passages. Many aspects of the life of these animals are still not known to scientists.

Marsupial badgers (bandicoots) lead a terrestrial lifestyle, they are small and medium in size from 150 grams to 2 kg. They feed on everything - insects with larvae, small lizards, fruits of trees, mushrooms and roots. There are several varieties in the family, for example, the rabbit bandicoot is a cross between a rat and a hare. They are also called "bilbies".

The only representative of marsupial anteaters lives in Australia - nambat, a rare mammal of small size, weighing up to 0.5 kg, is listed in the Red Book. Very cute animal with thick fur and transverse stripes on the back. Lives in holes or hollows, can climb trees. Differs in sound sleep, similar to suspended animation. Anteaters have many natural enemies, especially foxes.

koalas

Marsupial bears (koalas) are herbivorous mammals that live exclusively on trees. One of the most recognizable Australian animals. Cute charming animals, extremely slow, which is caused by the consumption of low-protein foods. They deftly climb the branches of trees, they can jump from one eucalyptus tree to another. They descend to the ground just to go to another tree, they know how to swim. Koalas have a characteristic feature - on the fingertips there is a papillary pattern, like in humans. Modern koalas have one of the smallest brains among marsupials, while the ancestors of koalas had a much larger brain.

Marsupial herbivorous mammals, digging holes and underground caves with many passages and branches at a depth of up to 3.5 meters. In the animal kingdom of our days, these are the largest mammals, spending most of their lives underground. Outwardly, wombats look like small bears, about 1 meter in size and weighing up to 45 kg. They have the smallest number of teeth among marsupials, only 12. Natural enemies are only the Tasmanian devil and dingoes. With very thick skin on the back of the body and a kind of shield on the pelvic bones, wombats defend their shelter simply by sticking their butt out at the entrance. Even at the moment of danger, they butt their heads, inflicting serious blows or crushing enemies against the walls of their cave.

Possums

The possum (cuscus) marsupials of Australia include several families of small-sized animals that lead an arboreal lifestyle. The most interesting of these are the Mountain Couscous, which lives in the mountains and hibernates for a long time; The fox kuzu, the only one of its kind adapted to urban life, whose nests can be found under the roofs of houses in the suburbs; a tiny honey badger possum with an elongated trunk-shaped muzzle feeds on pollen, nectar and small insects, lives on trees, but does not eat honey; marsupial flying squirrels, similar to the placental flying squirrel, with a skin membrane on the sides between the front and hind legs.

The most recognizable Australian marsupials are the kangaroos, a broad family of herbivorous mammals with highly developed hind legs and hopping. Kangaroos - the largest family of marsupials in Australia, includes 50 species and is combined into 3 groups. Kangaroo rats are the smallest kangaroos. Wallabies are medium-sized animals. Giant kangaroos are the largest living marsupials. The image of a giant kangaroo is placed on the coat of arms of Australia.

Marsupials are a subclass of mammals, uniting, it would seem, animals that are completely different in appearance and habits. In this motley company there are predators and vegetarians, insectivorous and omnivorous animals, and even scavengers. Some are active during the day, others at night. Some live in trees, others live near water or underground.

Among them there are runners, jumpers, steeplejacks, diggers and even flyers. There are little ones no larger than a mouse, and there are giants the size of a man. About 280 species of marsupials living on the planet belong to various families, the most famous of which are kangaroos, bandicoots, American opossums, carnivorous marsupials and possums.

Marsupials live mainly in Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania and New Zealand. In both Americas marsupial opossums are found. Marsupials are not related to placental mammals, but among them there are analogues of ordinary, marmots, wolves and foxes.

Marsupials - structural features

Before us is a vivid example of the convergence of forms, due to adaptation to similar conditions. There are quite a few primitive features in the structure of marsupials.

Their cerebral cortex is poorly developed, but their olfactory lobes are excellent. They are covered with thick hair, and numerous subcutaneous glands produce powdered substances and dyes. Low body temperature fluctuates depending on the temperature of the external environment.

Their teeth immediately grow permanent - up to 40 or more in number, and the virginian opossum hisses, splashing with saliva, fifty sharp teeth at the sight of danger. The emergence of similar forms in remote regions of the planet in the presence of similar external conditions. The Latin name for marsupials comes from "bag".

The brood pouch is formed by a special skin fold on the abdomen. Some species do not have a pouch, but all have abdominal support bones in their pelvic girdle that sharply distinguish marsupials from other mammals. In addition, female marsupials have a double vagina, and often a double uterus, and males of many species have a dilobed penis.

The placenta in marsupials is not formed - in rare cases, only its rudiment. After a short pregnancy, underdeveloped cubs ranging in size from 5 mm to 3 cm are born - tiny pink bodies covered with transparent skin with clawed front paws and a tail.

The newborn has a difficult and dangerous journey into the mother's pouch. Clinging to the mother's fur with claws, he crawls along the wet "path", which the female licks with her tongue. Having fallen down, the baby inevitably dies, so the female always has several reserve embryos in reserve.

In small species, several cubs are placed in one bag at once, which spend 6-8 months in it, hanging on their mother's nipples. A special subcutaneous muscle of the female compresses the mammary glands, and milk is injected directly into the baby's mouth.

marsupials - kunguru

Kangaroos living only in Australia belong to the “big-footed” family, which unites more than 50 species in a dozen and a half genera. Among them there are 30-centimeter dwarfs, and real giants. Recognized giants among marsupials are a large gray and a large red kangaroo. The growth of males of the latter species reaches 2 meters.

A long massive tail serves as a support for the kangaroo, supporting the body in an upright position, and on the run it acts as a counterweight - in a word, it acts like a third leg. Long muscular hind legs, like springs, allow the animal to jump 3 meters in height and up to 12 meters in length.

Kangaroo jumping is an extremely picturesque sight. Having powerfully pushed off with its hind legs, the animal stretches into line and, as it were, hangs in flight above the ground, and at the moment of landing it sharply flaps its tail up. Having accelerated well, the kangaroo speeds up to 40 km per hour.

Being staunch vegetarians, kangaroos are not averse to eating insects or larvae on occasion. They feed at night, keeping in small groups, consisting of one male father and several females with cubs. The male usually performs the functions of a watchman, vigilantly looking around the surroundings.

In this he is assisted by keen eyesight and sense of smell. Kangaroos willingly eat grass, alfalfa and clover, but most of all they like a plant with hard, sharp leaves that grows in the Australian semi-deserts. A full stomach makes up 15% of an animal's body weight. Its walls secrete a special secret in which bacteria that break down cellulose live.

Coarse pasture with a high content of silicon leads to rapid abrasion of molars, and during the life of a red kangaroo they are replaced 4 times.

During the day, kangaroos rest and comb out, breathing like a dog with their tongue hanging out. Fleeing from the heat, animals lick their front paws, chest and hind legs, and saliva, evaporating, cools the overheated body. As befits the inhabitants of semi-deserts, kangaroos can do without a watering place for several weeks, and thick fur serves as excellent thermal insulation in summer and winter.

Due to its dull color, it weakly absorbs solar energy, saving the animal from the heat. Peace-loving by nature, a kangaroo may well fend for itself. He fights off wild dingo dogs with deadly blows of his hind legs, leaning his back against a tree, and if there is a lake nearby, he runs headlong into the water and tries to drown the pressing enemies.

Males differ from females not only in size, but also in color, and during the rutting season, some put on a bright marriage outfit. So, the male red kangaroo becomes fiery red, the female retains a grayish-blue fur coat. Males have a strict hierarchy. Only the largest and strongest male gets the right to mate with females. Having started a mating match, the rivals box or kick as much as they can.

Kangaroo breeding is adapted to the annual alternation of dry and rainy seasons. After the birth of the cub, another fertilized egg descends into the uterus of the female, but its development begins only with the advent of the next rainy season. Meanwhile, a few months old kangaroo is safely sitting in the bag.

It happens that a grown-up cub sits in a mother’s bag, a newborn baby hangs on a neighboring nipple, and a fertilized egg in the uterus is just waiting for the older offspring to make room.

marsupials - koala

Only the smallest species of koala has survived to this day. In addition to appearance, this beast has nothing to do with bears. Belonging to the possum family, the koala lives on trees, eating eucalyptus leaves, and occasionally acacia. He can do without water for a long time, being content with the moisture contained in the leaves.

An adult koala weighing up to 10 kg eats 0.5 kg of greenery per night. Thanks to strong hind legs and an excellent sense of balance, he climbs trees well. The lack of a tail is compensated by wide grasping fingers and strong claws, and rough soles provide traction with smooth bark.

Koala is a nocturnal animal, so his eyesight is poor, but his sense of smell and hearing are well developed. He prefers to live in solitude, and the meeting of two males on the same tree inevitably ends in a fight - the opponents growl menacingly, bite and beat each other.

Females mark their territory with feces, and males leave claw marks and odorous marks secreted by the mammary gland on the bark. Mating takes place on a tree in an upright position. The female brings one cub a year, which weighs only 5 grams and must move into the mother's pouch on its own. By the way, it opens down, not up, like most marsupials. Thanks to this, the baby gets access to a semi-digested slurry of eucalyptus leaves, which is excreted with maternal feces and serves as complementary foods for milk.

marsupials - possum

More than 40 species of tree marsupials belong to the possum family. In the tree bear kangaroo, unlike its terrestrial relatives, the front and hind limbs are the same length, the feet are short and wide, and the claws look like long hooks. All these devices allow him to make 10-meter jumps from branch to branch.

The ring-tailed possum wraps its long prehensile tail around the branches for greater reliability, and the yellow-bellied flying squirrel gracefully glides from tree to tree, flying about 50 m. Skin folds between the wrists and knee joints serve as a glider. The largest representative of this family is a large flying possum, which can fly up to 100 meters.

Marsupials - flying squirrel

The only representative of the marsupial mole family lives in sandy deserts. His muzzle is protected by a strong keratinized shield, there are no auricles, and he is completely blind. His paws are very short, the front fingers are partially fused, and the 3rd and 4th fingers are armed with long digging claws. The animal makes its way with its nasal shield, and rakes the sand with its hind legs.

The marsupial anteater or nambat from the anteater family is similar to its South American counterpart with an elongated head with a narrow stigma and a thin long tongue with which it collects ants and termites. Unlike most marsupials, this animal is diurnal and does not have a pouch.

The cubs just hang on the nipples, and the mother drags them everywhere on her. In terms of the number of teeth, only some whales and armadillos can be compared with the nambat. Marsupial flying squirrel - aka feather-tailed acrobat - is the smallest animal of all marsupials. The length of her body with a tail does not exceed 14.5 cm. She looks like an ordinary mouse, with the only difference being that she can fly. The flying membrane of a sitting animal is folded in neat folds. The Tasmanian wombat is busy burrowing every day.

marsupials - the devil

Cubs master this science by digging side tunnels directly from the mother's dwelling. American opossums, with their pointed snouts and hairless tails, are very similar to rats. Bags in most species are absent.

The Tasmanian devil is a marsupial predator no larger than a fox terrier, wears a black fur coat and is very ferocious. He hunts for a variety of game - invertebrates, fish, mammals, reptiles and does not disdain carrion. But in captivity, the animal is very affectionate and flexible. Currently preserved only on the island of Tasmania.

Here is an essay about marsupials and their structure.

I was looking for pictures of marsupials with cubs in a bag and came across an article about this detachment. I read and learned so many new things. I didn’t even think that their cubs are born so small, and then crawl into the bag themselves

Here is the article source www.floranimal.ru
Squad marsupials
(Marsupiala)
Mammals / Marsupials /
Mammalia / Marsupiala /

Order Marsupials (Marsupiala), with the exception of American possums and coenolests, are common on the mainland of Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands. About 250 species belong to this order. Among the marsupials there are insectivorous, predatory and herbivorous forms. They also differ greatly in size. The length of their body, including the length of the tail, can range from 10 cm (Kimberley marsupial mouse) to 3 m (large gray kangaroo). Marsupials are more complexly organized animals than monotremes. Their body temperature is higher (on average - 36 °). All marsupials give birth to live young and feed them with milk. However, compared with the higher mammals, they have many ancient, primitive structural features that sharply distinguish them from other animals.




The first characteristic feature of marsupials is the presence of so-called marsupial bones (special bones of the pelvis, which are developed in both females and males). Most marsupials have a pouch for carrying young, but not all have it to the same degree; there are species in which the bag is missing. Most primitive insectivorous marsupials do not have a “finished” bag - a pocket, but only a small fold that limits the milky field. This is the case, for example, with numerous marsupial mice, or mouse species. The yellow-footed marsupial mouse - one of the most archaic marsupials - has only a slight uplift of the skin, like a border around the milky field; the fat-tailed marsupial mouse close to it has two lateral folds of skin, which grow somewhat after the birth of cubs; finally, the baby mouse has something that looks like a bag that opens back towards the tail. In kangaroos, the bag of which is more perfect, it opens forward, towards the head, like an apron pocket.


The second characteristic feature of marsupials is the special structure of the lower jaw, the lower (posterior) ends of which are bent inward. The coracoid bone in marsupials is fused with the scapula, as in higher mammals - this distinguishes them from monotremes. The structure of the dental system is an important classification feature of the order of marsupials. On this basis, the entire detachment is divided into 2 suborders: multi-incisor and two-incisor. The number of incisors is especially large in primitive insectivorous and predatory forms, which have 5 incisors in each half of the jaw at the top and 4 incisors at the bottom. Herbivorous forms, in contrast, have no more than one incisor on each side of the lower jaw; their fangs are absent or underdeveloped, and their molars have blunt tubercles. The structure of the mammary glands of marsupials is characteristic; they have nipples to which newly born cubs are attached. The mammary ducts open at the edge of the nipples, as in monkeys and humans, and not into an internal reservoir, as in most mammals.


However, the main difference between marsupials and all other mammals is the features of their reproduction. The process of reproduction of marsupials, the observation of which is very difficult, has only recently been fully elucidated. The cubs in the mother's pouch are at first so small and underdeveloped that the first observers had a question: would they not be born directly in the pouch? F. Pelsart, a Dutch navigator, in 1629 first described a marsupial. He, like many later naturalists, thought that the young of marsupials are born right in the bag, "from the nipples"; according to these ideas, the cub grows on the nipple, like an apple on a tree branch. It seemed incredible that a half-formed embryo, hanging inertly on the nipple, could climb into the pouch on its own if it was born outside of it. However, already in 1806, the zoologist Barton, who studied the North American opossum, found that the newborn can move around the mother's body, get into the bag and attach to the nipple. For Australian marsupials, this was confirmed in 1830 by the surgeon Colley. Despite these observations, the famous English anatomist R. Owen in 1833 returned to the already expressed idea that the mother carries the newborn into the bag. According to Owen, she takes the cub with her lips and, holding the opening of the bag with her paws, puts it inside. The authority of Owen for more than half a century fixed this incorrect point of view in science. The embryo in marsupials begins to develop in the uterus. However, it is almost not connected with the walls of the uterus and to a large extent is only a “yolk sac”, the contents of which are quickly depleted. Long before the embryo is fully formed, it has nothing to eat, and its "premature" birth becomes a necessity. The duration of marsupial pregnancy is very short, especially in primitive forms (for example, in opossums or marsupial cats from 8 to 14 days, in koalas it reaches 35, and in kangaroos - 38 - 40 days). The newborn is very small. Its dimensions do not exceed 25 mm in a large gray kangaroo - the largest representative of the detachment; in primitive insectivores and predators, it is even smaller - about 7 mm. The weight of the newborn is from 0.6 to 5.5 g. The degree of development of the embryo at the time of birth is somewhat different, but usually the cub is almost devoid of hair. The hind limbs are poorly developed, bent and closed by the tail. On the contrary, the mouth is wide open, and the front legs are well developed, claws are clearly visible on them. The forelimbs and mouth are the organs that a newborn marsupial will need first. No matter how underdeveloped the marsupial cub may be, it cannot be said that it is weak and lacks energy. If you separate him from his mother, he can live for about two days. Kangaroo rats and some possums have only one baby; koalas and bandicoots sometimes have twins. Most insectivorous and predatory marsupials have much more babies: 6-8 and even up to 24. Usually the number of babies corresponds to the number of mother's nipples to which they must attach. But often there are more cubs, for example, in marsupial cats, in which there are only three pairs of nipples for 24 cubs. In this case, only the first 6 cubs attached can survive. There are also opposite cases: in some bandicoots, which have 4 pairs of nipples, the number of cubs does not exceed one or two. To attach to the nipple, the newborn marsupial must get into the mother's pouch, where protection, warmth and food await it. How does this movement take place? Let's trace it on the example of a kangaroo. A newborn kangaroo, blind and underdeveloped, very soon chooses the right direction and begins to crawl straight to the bag. It moves with the help of front paws with claws, wriggling like a worm, and turning its head around. The space in which he crawls is covered with wool; this, on the one hand, hinders him, but, on the other hand, helps: he clings tightly to the wool, and it is very difficult to shake him off. Sometimes the calf makes a mistake in direction: it crawls to the mother's thigh or chest and turns back, searching until it finds a bag, searching continuously and tirelessly. Finding the bag, he immediately climbs inside, finds the nipple and attaches to it. Between the moment of birth and the time when the cub is attached to the nipple, marsupials usually have 5 to 30 minutes. Attached to the nipple, the cub loses all its energy; he again for a long time becomes an inert, helpless embryo. What does the mother do while her cub is looking for a bag? Does she help him in this difficult moment? Observations on this are still incomplete, and opinions are rather contradictory. During the time it takes for the newborn to reach the pouch, the mother takes a position and does not move. Kangaroos usually sit on the tail passing between the hind legs and pointing forward, or lying on their side. The mother holds her head as if she is watching the cub all the time. Often she licks it - immediately after birth or during the movement to the bag. Sometimes she licks her hair towards the bag, as if helping the cub to move in the right direction. If the cub gets lost and cannot find the bag for a long time, the mother begins to worry, scratch and fidget, while she can injure and even kill the cub. In general, the mother is more of a witness to the energetic activity of the newborn than his assistant. Initially, the nipple of marsupials has an elongated shape. When a cub is attached to it, a thickening develops at its end, apparently associated with the release of milk; this helps the baby stay on the nipple, which he squeezes with his mouth all the time. It is very difficult to separate it from the nipple without tearing its mouth or damaging the glands. The baby of marsupials passively receives milk, the amount of which is regulated by the mother with the help of muscle contractions of the milky field. For example, in a koala, the mother supplies the cub with milk for 5 minutes every 2 hours. So that he does not choke on this stream of milk, there is a special arrangement of the respiratory tract: air passes directly from the nostrils to the lungs, since the palatine bones at this time have not yet been fully formed, and the epiglottic cartilage continues forward to the nasal cavity. Protected and supplied with food, the cub grows rapidly. The hind legs develop, usually becoming longer than the front ones; the eyes open, and after a few weeks the immobility is replaced by conscious activity. The baby begins to break away from the nipple and stick its head out of the bag. The first time he wants to get out, he is not allowed to go by his mother, who can control the size of the outlet of the bag. Different types of marsupials spend a different period in the bag - from several weeks to several months. The stay of the cub in the bag ends as soon as it becomes able to feed not on milk, but on other food. The mother usually looks for a nest or lair in advance, where the children live for the first time under her supervision.


It is believed that the order of marsupials (Marsupialia) is divided into 2 suborders: multi-incisive marsupials (Polyprotodontia) and two-incisive marsupials (Diprotodontia). The former include more primitive insectivorous and predatory individuals, the latter - herbivorous marsupials. An intermediate position between the multi-incisors and the two-incisors is occupied by a little-studied group of coenolests, which some zoologists consider to be a separate suborder. The coenolest group includes one family and three genera. These are small animals that resemble American opossums and are found in South America.

Brief message about marsupials Animals will briefly talk about these amazing animals. Also, a report on marsupials will help prepare for the lesson and deepen your knowledge of biology.

"Marsupials" report

Marsupials belong to the subclass of mammals. Among them there are herbivores and predators, omnivorous and insectivorous animals, scavengers. Some live on the ground, others in trees, underground or near water. About 280 species of marsupials are known on the planet - the most famous of them are predatory marsupials, kangaroos, American opossums, bandicoots and possums. They are not related to placental mammals.

Where do marsupials live?

The distribution of marsupials is rather peculiar. Most of them live in Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and New Guinea. In America, marsupial opossums are found.

Brief description of marsupials

There are many primitive features in their structure. The body of animals is covered with thick hair, and the subcutaneous glands produce dyes and substances. Body temperature depends on the ambient temperature. The teeth of marsupials immediately grow permanent. For marsupials, the presence of various adaptations to a particular habitat is characteristic - powerful claws for digging, strong paws for holding on trees, a tenacious tail for climbing, strong hind legs for jumping. Their cubs are born underdeveloped, after which they actively develop in the mother's pouch on her belly. Brood bag is a special skin fold on the abdomen. It is absent in some species. All representatives of marsupials have bones that support the stomach. They are located in the pelvic girdle. This distinguishes marsupials from other mammals. Also, their distinguishing feature is that females have a double vagina and a double uterus, and most males have a dilobed penis.

Reproduction of marsupials

Pregnancy lasts a rather short period, after which underdeveloped cubs up to 3 cm long are born. They are covered with pinkish transparent skin, the front legs are already formed with claws and a developed tail. It is born from a hole near the base of the tail and, wriggling like a lizard, with the help of strong muscles, moves into the mother's pouch. If the baby could not resist and fell - he dies. The cub, once in the bag, clings to the nipple, which clogs the mouth of the newborn and the milk goes directly into his mouth. The kids seem to hang on them. In the bag, it grows and develops. Rarely leaves her. When the animal can already get its own food, it leaves the female.

In animals without a pouch, babies grow on their mother's back. They are protected by her dense, warm fur. These include marsupial anteater and rat-like opossums.

Nutrition of marsupials

Marsupials feed on grasses, leaves and young shoots of trees, algae, and bark. Other species prefer various insects. Others are predators and scavengers: they eat invertebrates, birds, eggs, small mammals, animal carcasses. It all depends on the species.

• The largest marsupial is the red kangaroo. His height is higher than the height of a person, and his weight reaches 90 kg.
• The smallest marsupial is the wallaby, a small kangaroo.
• Kangaroos can live for several months without water.
• Some representatives have toxic substances in their saliva.
• Young marsupials are born no larger than a peanut. After they develop and grow in the mother's pouch.
• Kangaroos have big ears. When they hear danger, they beat their paws on the ground to warn their relatives.
• Kangaroos know how to fight and can kill a person with their blow.

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