The Topic: Marsupials Easier - Marsupial (mar-soo-pee-uhl) is the name of a large animal group whose young are born in an immature state. Females usually carry and nurse their young in pouches or pouch-like area on their abdomens. The newborn attaches itself to one of her nipples and remains until it is well formed and has grown much larger.   Marsupials live in forests, plains, and deserts. They are found in the Americas, Australia, New Guinea, and some neighboring islands. They include kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, wombats, bandicoots, and opossums. Kangaroos are the largest marsupials - - a male red kangaroo can reach 6' high. Shrew-like ningauis are the smallest - - some of the latter weigh less than 1/10 ounce (2.8 grams).   Harder - Marsupials differ from other mammals by having their young born in an extremely immature or undeveloped state. Newborn marsupials emerge from their mother's birth canal and instinctively wiggle their way to a nipple. In most species, the nipples are located in a pouch called the marsupium. Newborn marsupials undergo most of their development attached to one of their mother's nipples and nourished by her milk. They remain close until they no longer need her milk and can fend for themselves. A few marsupials, such as the shrew opossum, do not have pouches.   There are about 260 different species of marsupials. Most can be classified into one of six groups. Two marsupial groups are found only in the Americas: (1) didelphids that include opossums and (2) caenolestids, the rat opossums of western South America. The other four marsupial groups are found in Australasia. The (3) macropods are kangaroos and wallabies. Phalangers (4) are called possums, but should not be confused with Americas' Opossums. Most (5) dasyurids are small, insect-eating mammals, but this group also includes a few carnivore marsupials. The (6) peramelids are bandicoots. That still leaves koalas and wombats, two other species.   Kangaroos from the National Wildlife Federation http://www.nwf.org/internationalwildlife/kangaroo.html This website labels itself as having 'Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Kangaroos. See also: Wallabies (Below) Related Websites: 2) Grey Kangaroo form Pittsburgh Zoo http://zoo.pgh.pa.us/wildlife_search_animal.asp?categoryname=Mammals&animal=17 3) Kangaroo from Gander Academy (Links-site) http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/kangaroo.htm 4) Kangaroo Page from R. Brant http://members.aol.com/richbrant/kangaroo.html 5) Kangaroo from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Kangaroocoloring.shtml 6) Kangaroo Images http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/~toddjh/kangaroo/ 7) Kangaroos http://members.ozemail.com.au/~stewil/Kangaroos.htm 8) Kangaroos and their Relatives from Australian Wildlife http://www.australianwildlife.com.au/features/marsupials1.htm 9) Kangaroos from the San Antonio Zoo http://www.sazoo-aq.org/kangaroo.html 10) Kangaroos from Interactive Tour of Tasmania http://vcserv.seas.smu.edu/tastour/fauna/kangaroo.html 11) Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo http://home.mira.net/~areadman/lumh.htm 12) Red Kangaroo from PBS Creature World http://www.pbs.org/kratts/world/aust/kangaroo/index.html 13) Red Kangaroo http://home.mira.net/~areadman/red.htm 14) Red Kangaroo from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Redroocoloring.shtml   Koalas Theme Page from Gander Academy http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/koala.htm This huge links-site connects to online information, resources, activities, and lesson plans for koalas. See also: Koalas in the 'By Kids For Kids Websites' (Below) Other Koala Websites: 2) Koala http://home.mira.net/~areadman/koala.htm 3) Koala from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Koalaprintout.shtml 4) Koalas http://www.thekoala.com/koala/ 5) Koalas http://members.ozemail.com.au/~stewil/Koalas.htm 6) Koala Pages http://www.onthenet.com.au/~jbergh/koala/Welcome.html 7) Queensland Koala from Big Zoo http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Queensland_Koala.asp 8) Whose Toes Are Those? from BillyBear4Kids http://www.billybear4kids.com/animal/whose-toes/toes11a.html   Australian Marsupial Mammals http://www.education.qut.edu.au/masters/EC_projects/Abeya/assignment.htm Chrissy Koala and some friends introduce you to some marsupial mammals. Related Websites: 2) Marsupial Mammals from Museum of Paleontology, Univ. of California, Berkeley http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mammal/marsupial/marsupial.html 3 Marsupial Gallery http://www.newcastle.edu.au/marsupialcrc/gallery.html 4) Marsupial Society of Australia http://www.marsupialsociety.org.au/Marsupial_Society.htm 5) Marsupial Night Stalk http://scienceweek.info.au/marsupials/ 6) Marsupials http://www.geobop.com/Mammals/Marsupialia/index.htm 7) Marsupials http://www.rpi.net.au/~bad/marsupials.htm 8) Marsupials: Kangaroo, Koala and Wombat from Kidport http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science/Animals/Marsupials.htm   National Opossum Society http://www.opossum.org/ This organization provides information on the benefits of the opossum in the environment plus their proper care and handling. See also: Possum (Below) Related Websites: 2) Opossum: Our Marvelous Marsupial, The Social Loner http://www.wildliferescueleague.org/report/opossum.html 3) Opossum from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission http://wld.fwc.state.fl.us/critters/opossum.asp 4) Opossum http://www.squirrel-rehab.org/opossum/opossum.html 5) Opossum - Animal Tracks http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/7076/opossum.html 6) Opossum Society of the United States http://www.opossumsocietyus.org/ 7) Wonderful Skunk and Opossum Page http://granicus.if.org/~firmiss/m-d/md-main.html   After visiting several of the marsupial websites, complete one or more of these projects.   Write A Tall Tale. Learn about tall tales at 42eXplore: Tall Tales. Write your own tall tale about how a marsupial got its pouch.   Possum or Opossum? Possums are furry marsupials that live in the trees of Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. The opossum is a member of a family of furry mammals that live in the Western Hemisphere, from Ontario southward into South America. Opossums and possums are not closely related. Compare and contrast these two marsupial groups. Show the results of your research and analysis in a spreadsheet or with Inspiration software.   Complete A Marsupials WebQuest. Follow or adapt the procedures found at one of the following webQuest sites. 1) Amazing Australian Adventures by N. Rasche, B. Brandenburg, A. Lamott, & B. Mong http://www.bsu.edu/CTT/EDEL101_WQ/EDEL101-2_WQ3/Marsupials/marsupials.htm 2) Extinct Australian Marsupials (Grades 9-11) by by W.C. Wingardner Jr. http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/edis771/webquest2000/student/sbillwingard/home.html 3) 'I Want a Koala as my Pet!' WebQuest by H. Dean http://www.web-and-flow.com/members/hdean/marsupials/webquest.htm 4) Kangaroos (Grades 1-3) by by M. Colleton http://www.dedham.k12.ma.us/webquest/fall2000/mc/introd.html 5) Koala Quest (Kindergarten) by P. Rumsey http://warrensburg.k12.mo.us/webquest/koalas/ 6) Virginia the Opossum (Grade 2-3) by R. Virgin http://www.linlee.fcps.net/media_center/possum/virginia_the_opossum.htm   Take A Marsupial Quiz. Go to The Nature Quiz and see how you do answering the questions.   Make A Marsupial Mystery. Learn about mysteries at 42explore: Mysteries. Write your own marsupial mystery.   Create A Marsupial Mural. Envision an environment where marsupials live. Create a mural that shows as many possible marsupials in their appropriate habitat. Your mural may encompass some varied biomes.   Compare and Contrast Different Marsupials. Pick two different types of marsupials and research their characteristics and habits to identify ways that they are alike and ways that they differ. Create a Venn Diagram showing the comparison.   Websites By Kids For Kids Cuscus http://members.iinet.net.au/~clifton/4_5l/cuscus.html See and learn about this tree dwelling marsupial at this school project site.   Koala by by D. Cupit at SchoolWorld Endangered Species Project http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/koala2.html The koala is only found in Australia. It lives in the hollow parts of trees big enough to support them. Learn more about koalas at these student project sites. Similar Websites at from SchoolWorld: 2) Koala by S. Kelleher http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/koala.html 3) Koala by R. Urban http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/koala3.html 4) Koala by E. Pride and J. Jones http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/koala4.html 5) Koala by S. Moore http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/koala5.html Other Koala Websites: 6) Koala Slide Show from Kent School District http://sun.kent.wednet.edu/KSD/DE/st_proj/australia/koala/koala.html   Leadbeater's Possum by C. Palmer and B. Price at SchoolWorld Endangered Species Project http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/leadposs.html The Leadbeater's possum is a small nocturnal animal that is extremely shy. Once believed to be extinct, the species was rediscovered in 1961 near Melbourne, Australia. Another Similar Website: 2) Leadbeater's Possum http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/possum.html   Marsupial Mania (2000 ThinkQuest Junior project) http://library.thinkquest.org/J002754/jc.html This project focuses on the duckbilled platypus and the koala bear. It also explains how some marsupials ended up on the continent of Australia.   Numbat by N. Myyrylainen at SchoolWorld Endangered Species Project http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/numbat.html The Numbat is a short-legged marsupial approximately 8-10 inches in length with a pointed snout, short ears, and grayish brown fur with a series of white ring like stripes around its body. Other Numbat Projects: 2) Numbat http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/numbat2.html 3) Numbat by B. Timms http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/numbat3.html   Opossom http://www.esu8.k12.ne.us/districts/norfolk-cath/opossum.html Here students share what they know about North America's only native marsupial.   Pig Footed Bandicoot by N. Jamieson at SchoolWorld Endangered Species Project http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/pfbandi.html Learn about this small marsupial that has large ears, long tail, a pouch to carry young, pointed nose, tall legs, and is a similar shape to a dunnart or mouse. Other Related Websites from the SchoolWorld Endangered Species Project: 2) Rufous Spiny Bandicoot by A. Lee http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/bancoot2.html   Red Kangaroo from SchoolWorld Endangered Species Project http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/redkang.html See and learn about the red kangaroo, one of the largest living marsupials. Related Website: 2) Kangaroo Slide Show from Kent School Districthttp://sun.kent.wednet.edu/KSD/DE/st_proj/australia/kangaroo/kangaroo.html   Sugar Glider http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ctech/sugar.htm This brief website tells of the small gliding possum that comes out at night.   Tasmanian Devil by Chris Kaminski from SchoolWorld Endangered Species Project http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/tasdevil.html The Tasmanian Devil has adapted to varied climates such as dense rain forests and open plains. It can live in burrows of dense brush during the day and attack prey at night. Similar Website at the SchoolWorld Endangered Species Project: 2) Tasmanian Devil by S. Innes-Gawn http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/tazdev2.html Other Tasmanian Devil Websites: 3) Tasmanian Devil Slide Show from Kent School District http://sun.kent.wednet.edu/KSD/DE/st_proj/australia/devil/devil.html   Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby by J. Ginsburg & N. Wall at SchoolWorld Endangered Species Project http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/yellowft.html The common name is the Yellow Footed Rock wallaby and the scientific name is petrogalexanthopus. This wallaby is also called the Ringed tailed Wallaby. Related Website: 2) Wallaby Slide Show from Kent School District http://sun.kent.wednet.edu/KSD/DE/st_proj/australia/wallaby/wallaby.html   More Marsupial Sites Antechinus http://www.ozramp.net.au/~senani/antechin.htm This brief site introduces information and a photograph of this diminutive marsupial.   Australia's Lost Kingdoms from National Museum of Australia http://www.lostkingdoms.com/index.cfm Here you can learn about long-extinct mammals of Australia, many of them marsupials, and the fossils, paleontology, and prehistory related to them. Related Websites: 2) Ekaltadeta from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Ekaltadetaprintout.shtml 3) Natural History of Marsupials http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/marsupials.html   Bandicoot, Eastern Barred from Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/ebband.html The eastern barred bandicoot is considered threatened because the species is potentially at risk of becoming extinct. Other Bandicoot Sites: 2) Bandicoot from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Bandicootprintout.shtml 3) Bilby or Rabbit-Eared Bandicoot from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Bilbyprintout.shtml 4) Long Nosed Bandicoot http://home.mira.net/~areadman/bandi.htm   Carnivorous Marsupials from Australian Wildlife http://www.australianwildlife.com.au/features/marsupials3.htm A number of marsupial specie are carnivorous. The most well-known of these types are the Tasmanian devil.   Dibbler from Perth Zoo http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/dibbler.html Little is known about this small carnivorous marsupial &emdash; thought to be extinct for some 83 years. Related Website: 2) Dibbler http://www.animalinfo.org/species/paraapic.htm   Cuscus - Spotted Cuscus http://home.mira.net/~areadman/cuscus.htm Learn more about these members of the of the Phalanger, a type of possum (Australia's largest), which is a marsupial. Similar Website: 2) Spotted Cuscus http://members.ozemail.com.au/~stewil/SpoCus.htm   Ningaui Netsite http://www.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~dbos/ningaui.html Learn about ningauis(pronounced 'nin-gow-ee'), very small and very intriguing Australian marsupials.   Notoryctes typhlops: Marsupial Mole from University of Michigan Museum of Zoology http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/notoryctes/n._typhlops.html Unlike true moles (Talpidae), the marsupial mole is apparently not as subterranean. The marsupial mole inhabits the deserts of Australia, particularly in sand-dunes, interdunal flats and sandy soils along river flats.   Numbat from Earth Sanctuaries Limited http://www.esl.com.au/numbat.htm The Numbat is a small striped marsupial whose whole diet consists of termites. Since termites are most active during daylight hours, the Numbat has become southern Australia's only strictly diurnal ( active during daytime) mammal. More Numbate Resources: 2) Australian Numbat http://home.mira.net/~areadman/numbat.htm 3) Faunal Emblem of the State of Western Australia http://www.mpc.wa.gov.au/emblems/numbat.html 4) Numbat from SchoolWorld http://www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/numbat.html 5) Numbat from Perth Zoo http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/numbat.html 6) Numbat from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Numbatprintout.shtml   Phascogale http://home.mira.net/~areadman/phas.htm Learn about the two types of phascogale marsupials. Related Websites: 2) Brush-tailed Phascogale from Perth Zoo http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/phascogale.html 3) Red-tailed Phascogale from Animal Info http://www.animalinfo.org/species/phascalu.htm   Possum http://www.ozramp.net.au/~senani/possum.htm#Possum-Possum Possums are nocturnal animals. That means they only come out at night and sleep during the day. Australian possums are all marsupial mammals. See Also: Opossum (Above) Related Websites: 2) Brushtail Possum from Perth Zoo http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/possum.html 3) Eastern Pygmy Possum http://home.mira.net/~areadman/possum.htm 4) Leadbeater's Possum Page by D. Lindenmayer and M. Taylor http://incres.anu.edu.au/possum/possum.html 5) Leadbeaters Possum http://home.mira.net/~areadman/lead.htm 6) Possum Page http://home.vicnet.net.au/~animals/alibvic/possum.htm 7) Possums http://members.ozemail.com.au/~stewil/Possum.htm 8) Possums from Interactive Tour of Tasmania http://www.tased.edu.au/tot/fauna/possum.html 9) Possums and Gliders from Australian Wildlife http://www.australianwildlife.com.au/features/marsupials2.htm 10)Ringtail Possum from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Ringtailedpossum.shtml   Quokka http://home.mira.net/~areadman/quokka.htm The quokka is a small marsupial that looks a little-bit like a wallaby or kangaroo. See also: Wallaby (Below) Related Websites: 2) Quokka http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/plants_animals/mammal.quokka.html 3) Quokka from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Quokkacoloring.shtml 4) Quokka from Perth Zoo http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/quokka.html 5) What is the Quokka? http://www.tns.lcs.mit.edu/quokka.html   Sugar Glider - International Sugar Glider Association, Inc. http://www.isga.org/ Part of the aim of this organization is to promote understanding of the nature and origin of the sugar glider. Related Websites: 2) Sugar Glider Info by Bourban and Ruth http://www.sugargliderinfo.com/ 3) Sugar Glider http://members.ozemail.com.au/~stewil/SuGlidTO.htm 4) Sugar Glider http://home.mira.net/~areadman/sugar.htm 5) Sugar Glider from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Sugarglider.shtml 6) Sugar Gliders http://www.skinhorse.net/gliders/   Ouoll - Spotted-tail Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus from Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/stquoll.html The spotted-tailed quoll (or tiger cat as it was once inappropriately known) is the second largest of the world's surviving carnivorous marsupials. Related Websites: 2) Eastern Quoll from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Quollprintout.shtml 3) Spotted Tailed Quoll http://home.mira.net/~areadman/quoll.htm 4) Southern Tiger Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus maculatus from Queensland Museum http://www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/features/endangered/animals/quoll.asp   Tasmanian Tiger from Interactive Tour of Tasmania http://www.tased.edu.au/tot/fauna/tiger.html The Tasmanian Tiger, also called the Tasmanian Wolf, was a large marsupial native to Tasmania. Related Websites: 2) Tasmanian Tiger from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Tastiger.shtml 3) Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger from Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/thylacin.html 4) Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) http://home.mira.net/~areadman/tiger.htm 5) Queensland Marsupial Tiger http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~bz050/HomePage.qml.html   Tasmanian Devil - Thylacine Museum by. C. Campbell http://www.naturalworlds.org/thylacine/index.htm This site provides a comprehensive guide to a unique Australian marsupial, often referred to as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf. Related Websites: 2) Tasmanian Devil from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Tazdevilprintout.shtml 3) Tasmanian Devil from Perth Zoo http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/tassiedevil.html 4) Tasmanian Devil http://home.mira.net/~areadman/devil.htm 5) Tasmanian Devil, Sarcophilus harrisii from Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/devil.html 6) Tasmanian Devil from Interactive Tour of Tasmania http://vcserv.seas.smu.edu/tastour/fauna/devil.html   Wallabies from Interactive Tour of Tasmania http://www.tased.edu.au/tot/fauna/wallaby.html Wallabies are marsupials which, at first glance, look exactly like small kangaroos. See also: Quokka (Above) Other Websites for Wallabies: 2) Bennetts Wallaby from Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/bwallaby.html 3) Bridled Nailtail Wallaby, Onychogalea fraenata from Queensland Museum http://www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/features/endangered/animals/nailtail_wallaby.asp 4) Dama Wallaby-Macropus eugenii from Sedgwick County Zoo http://www.scz.org/animals/w/wallaby.html 5) Nabarlek from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Nabarlekcoloring.shtml 6) Wallaby from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Wallabyprintout.shtml 7) Wallaroo (Euro) http://home.mira.net/~areadman/wallaroo.htm   Wombats from Interactive Tour of Tasmania http://www.tased.edu.au/tot/fauna/wombat.html Wombats are large, lumbering marsupials which live only in Australia. Other Wombat Websites: 2) Hairy Nosed Wombat from South Australia http://www.sa.gov.au/emblems/wombat1.htm 3) Lasiorhinus krefftii: Hairy-Nosed Wombat at Univ. of Michigan Museum of Zoology http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/lasiorhinus/l._krefftii$narrative.html 4) Lasiorhinus latifrons: Southern Hairy-Nosed Womb at Univ. of Michigan Museum of Zoology http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/lasiorhinus/l._latifrons$narrative.html 5) Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii from Queensland Museum http://www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/features/endangered/animals/nth_wombat.asp 6) Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat http://home.mira.net/~areadman/wombat.htm 7) Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat from Perth Zoo http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/wombat.html 8) Wombat from Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Wombatcoloring.shtml 9) Wombats from Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/wombat.html 10)Wombats http://members.ozemail.com.au/~stewil/WomTO.htm   Websites For Teachers Educational Resources (Interdisciplinary Lessons Plans) from Kangaroo Industry http://www.kangaroo-industry.asn.au/curr/techvis/Homepage.html This is the site if you are planning a lesson or school activities on Kangaroos.   Marsupial Math by D.L. Craig (Grades K-1) http://www.lessonplanspage.com/MathSubtractionSentences-MarsupialMathK1.htm This math lesson on subtraction is designed to follow students learning about marsupials.   Marsupials (Grades 2-3) from AskERIC Lessons http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Animals/ANM0203.html Students use library media resources to locate information about marsupials.   Marsupials from Kids Courier http://www.kidscourier.com/kc/schools/less_plans-B.php3 This lesson and activities teach learners about marsupials.    marsupial koala wombat kangaroo wallaby bandicoot opossum platypus mob 'joey' cuscus possum marsupial mole tiger cat ningaui 'boomer' quokka planigale Tasmanian tiger Tasmanian wolf native cat 'flyer' gestation embryo live birth prehensile tail convergent evolution sugar glider 'playing possum' marsupium mammal neonates nocturnal antechinus omnivore bilby carnivore animal tracks predator herbivore creatures of the night pouched mammal        Created by Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson, 1/02.