For most, Australia is associated with marsupials, which are completely different from those that everyone is used to seeing. Not only do marsupials differ in appearance, they have a different physiology and a different body structure. For example, they have a bag where they carry their undeveloped babies.
This is one of the most ancient and amazing representatives of the animal world. To date, most marsupials have become extinct and now there are about 250 species.
The main difference between marsupial animals is that their babies are born underdeveloped and within several months they grow, being in this very bag on the mother’s stomach. Even when they grow up and can independently move and eat, they do not part with the bag and, at the slightest danger, hide in it. This continues until his younger brother takes his place.
The wildlife of Australia is very diverse. There are several dozen animals in Australia, and mostly marsupials. The most famous of this unit is the kangaroo. Probably everyone is familiar with this animal, although by hearsay, because a kangaroo is a kind of visiting card of Australia. Kangaroos are found only in Australia, with the exception of several species settled on the islands of Oceania.
In general, there are several types of kangaroos. The most famous is the big red kangaroo. Large red kangaroos reach growth under 2 meters and weight up to 80 and more kg. As you know, kangaroos move in jumps, and so the jumping of a red kangaroo in length can be up to 10 m. And in height, these jumpers can overcome up to 3 meters. The “redheads” inhabit mainly in the flat places of the savannah type. They feed on plant foods.
The second species is a gray “gigantic” or forest kangaroo. These kangaroos are slightly smaller in size, but not agility. A gray kangaroo can easily reach speeds of up to 65 km / h. So hunters, even by car, cannot always catch up with him. Although in principle the “Big Gray”, albeit of an impressive size, is a quite peaceful and trusting animal.
The third species is the mountain kangaroo “Vallaru”. They have a more massive physique and relatively short hind legs – this is perhaps the most dexterous of the kangaroos. They live in mountainous regions and easily jump from cliff to cliff and mountain ranges, perhaps better than any mountain goat.
There is a kind of kangaroo that inhabit trees. They are somewhat different from those living on earth. This is understandable, because climbing trees needs its own characteristics. But, nevertheless, these are the same interesting creatures and they also carry their children in a bag.
They live in Australia and very small kangaroos. Rather, it is something between a kangaroo and a rat. They are called – kvokka. They are somewhat similar to our jerboas, but also marsupials. These herbivores are very shy and are mostly nocturnal.
No less interesting is another representative of Australian marsupials, a koala marsupial bear. Very cute, looks like a teddy bear. The koala lives in eucalyptus groves. Spends all the time in the trees. He does not drink water, because he eats leaves of eucalyptus, and their juice is enough for him. Other koala foods are not recognized.
The marsupial family also has the largest burrowing animal, it is a wombat. Outwardly, he looks like a small bear, but he is a herbivore. An adult wombat reaches a meter or more in length, and can weigh more than 40 kg
There is another amazing mammal in Australia – the marsupial anteater Nambat. This is a fairly beautiful animal, ranging in size from 20 to 30 cm. With a striped pattern. In principle, it is a predator, because it eats living creatures. His food is termites. Nambat belongs to the class of marsupials, although he does not have a bag as such. On his stomach is a milky field framed by curly hair. Newborn naked and blind cubs, clinging to their hair, hang on their nipples and live like this for almost 4 months. When they become larger, the female leaves them in a hole or in a hollow and feeds them at night, because she is very shy.
One of the rare marsupials is the spotted marsupial marten. This beautiful animal is a real predator, which eats everything that is smaller in size: rabbits, birds, can eat both a snake and fish, well, whatever comes across. The marten is more than half a meter in length and can weigh up to 10 kg. In the spotted marten, the brood bag is not constant. It develops during the breeding season, is located behind and opens to the tail. In normal times, this is just a fold of skin. Unfortunately, this animal is on the verge of extinction and can only be found in national parks.
Another rare now marsupial animal is a rabbit bandicoot. Outwardly, the bandicoots look like rats, only they have a more elongated muzzle, and their ears are large, like a hare’s. These animals are up to 45 centimeters long, plus a tail up to 20 cm. Bandicoots, or as they are otherwise called bilby, feed on everything that gets. They can eat both insects and their larvae, easily cope with small lizards and other animals.
