Animals that are marsupials include Common Brushtail Possum, Dunnart, Kangaroo, Wallaby, and Koala.
Marsupials are a group of mammals that have pouches outside their bodies to carry their young.
Examples of Marsupial Animals
Examples of Marsupial Animals
They live in various places around the world, including Australia and North America.
1. Brown Four-Eyed Opossum
1. Brown Four-Eyed Opossum
Scientific NameMetachirus nudicaudatusType of AnimalMammalRange of Central and South AmericaDietOmnivore
The four-eyed brown opossum comes from South America.
A marsupial is a mammal that carries its young in a pouch on the front of its body.
A marsupial is a mammal that carries its young in a pouch on the front of its body.
They live near rivers or other wetland areas with dense vegetation for protection from predators.
2. Common Brushtail Possum
2. Common Brushtail Possum
Scientific NameTrichosurus vulpeculaType AnimalMammalRangeAustralia’s east coast, eastern South AustraliaDietOmnivore
This marsupial has a long, pointed tail and lives in trees.
The average length of a brushtail possum is about 125 centimeters (cm) including the tail.
3. Crest-Tailed Marsupial Rat
3. Crest-Tailed Marsupial Rat
Scientific NameDasyuroides byrneiAnimal TypeMamaRangeAustraliaMiddleDietCarnivora
The crested-tailed marsupial rat lives in Australia.
These nocturnal animals do not live underground like other rodents but build nests of leaves and grass above ground.
The crest-tailed marsupial mouse is a small rodent that eats fruits, seeds, insects, and plants.
Scientific Name Spilocuscus rufoniger Animal Type Mammal Range Northern New Guinea Diet Omnivorous
It eats fruit, flowers, nectar, and leaves from trees.
Babies attach themselves to the mother’s nipples when they are only a few days old.
Scientific NameSminthopsisAnimal TypeMamaMalRangeAustraliaDietCarnivora
Dunnart is the smallest marsupial in Australia.
There is no special protection, but it can be considered a pest because it likes to eat farmers’ crops.
Scientific Name Macropus giganteus Type of Animal Range Mammal Australia Diet Herbivore
The eastern gray kangaroo is found in Australia.
Males of this species can grow up to ten feet tall, while females are generally smaller.
Because marsupials have a shorter gestation period than most other mammals, the gestation period for the eastern gray kangaroo is only 36 days.
After giving birth, the child will crawl into the mother’s pouch.
Scientific NameTachyglossidaeAnimal TypeMammalRangeAustraliaDietCarnivora
Echidnas are mammals native to Australia.
They have several adaptations that allow them to survive in Australia’s harsh climate, including spines that help protect them from predators and also keep water away from their skin when they dig.
8. Four-Eyed Opossum
8. Four-Eyed Opossum
Scientific NamePhilanderTypes of AnimalsMammalRange Central and South AmericaDietOmnivore
7 The four-eyed opossum is a marsupial that lives in South America.
It gets its name from the white spots around each eye, which look like buttons on glasses.
They eat fruit and insects but their main source of food comes from the nectar they get by eating flowers.
Scientific NamePhascolarctos cinereusTypes of AnimalsRange MammalsAustraliaDietHerbivores
Koalas are marsupials found in Australia and range in length from 27-36 inches (70 to 90cm) and weigh from 9 to 20 lbs (4-9 kg).
Koalas are herbivores that usually eat eucalyptus leaves, bark, shoots, flowers, and fruits.
They have strong claws on their hands to help them climb trees while searching for food.
Koalas spend about 22 hours per day sleeping and the rest of the time they eat.
Scientific NameLasiorhinus krefftiiTypes of AnimalsRange MammalsAustraliaDietHerbivores
Wombats are marsupials that live in Australia.
They are often found near water and spend most of their time sleeping.
The northern hairy-nosed wombat is one of the rarest and most endangered marsupials.
Marsupial mole
Marsupial mole
Scientific Name Notoryctes Animal Species Australian Mammal Middle Diet Omnivorous
The marsupial mole lives in the Australian desert.
It is about nine inches long and has shovel-shaped claws on its front legs that help it dig through the sand to make a hole for itself.
She gave birth to a baby that fed on her mammary gland for about five months before leaving the hole and never seeing its mother again.
Scientific NameDromiciops gliroidesAnimal TypeMammalRangeChileDietOmnivora
Monito del Monte is a marsupial native to Chile.
Its body is the size of a mouse and it eats insects like ants, spiders, and beetles.
Scientific NameTrichosurus cunninghamiAnimal TypeMammalRangeAustraliaDietOmnivora
The mountain brushtail possum is native to Australia.
They are nocturnal animals, which means they are active at night and sleep during the day.
These animals are found in various habitats such as rainforests and eucalyptus forests.
They eat leaves and fruits from trees and they also dig roots underground.
Opossum Rat
Opossum Rat
Scientific NameMarmosaType of AnimalMammalRange of Central and South AmericaDietOmnivore
The opossum rat is a type of marsupial that lives throughout South and Central America.
It is the only marsupial found in North America.
Opossum rats live mainly off insects, fruit, and small vertebrates like lizards.
It should be noted that this animal has one of the largest brains among mammals relative to body size.
Mouse opossum pups are born after 12-14 days of gestation, which is the time from fertilization to birth.
The young are then carried in a bag attached to their mother’s stomach for approximately two months before they become independent!
Scientific NameHypsiprymnodon moschatusType Of AnimalMammalsNortheast AustraliaDietHerbivore
The musky rat-kangaroo is one of the smallest marsupials living in Australia.
It eats many types of plants, including fungi, grasses, mosses, fruits, and leaves.
Scientific NameDasyurus maculatusType of AnimalMammalRangeTasmania and throughout AustraliaDietCarnivorous
The large native cats are marsupials that live in the dry grasslands and open forests of Australia.
It has distinct black spots on its body and can weigh up to 35 pounds.
Male cats tend to be larger than females, which usually only weigh about 14 pounds.
Unfortunately, these animals are endangered because they face threats from human activities such as habitat destruction, hunting, and traffic accidents.
Scientific NameMyrmecobius fasciatusType AnimalRange MammalAustraliaDietCarnivora
Numbat is a small, mostly nocturnal marsupial that lives in Australia.
It has a long snout and thin tail, as well as thick fur to keep warm during the night.
Scientific NameLestodelphys halliTypes of AnimalsRange MammalsArgentinaDietOmnivora
The Patagonian opossum is a type of marsupial that lives in South America.
It has small eyes and ears, hair all over its body, and long whiskers on its snout.
Claws help climb trees where they hide during the day.
At night, these animals go out to hunt for food including birds, eggs, and insects.
Scientific Name Chaeropus ecaudatus Type of Animal Range Mammal Australia Diet Omnivorous
Pig-footed bandicoots are marsupials that were originally found in Australia.
They have thick fur coats and pig-like snouts, which is where their common name comes from.
Scientific Name Acrobates pygmaeus Animal TypeMamaRangeeastern AustraliaDietOmnivora
The pygmy glider is a marsupial that can be found in Northern Australia.
They are also known as Sugar Gliders and they love to taste the sap and nectar from the trees.
These animals grow about the size of your hand, so they don’t need a lot of space.
The baby grows rapidly while living inside the mother’s pouch.
They become independent and eat solid food at about two months of age, but they still spend a few more months inside their mother’s pouch before leaving.
Scientific Name Setonix brachyurus Type of Animal Range Mammal Australia Diet Herbivore
Quokka is a small marsupial that lives in Australia.
It has gray hair and a long tail.
The joey lives in its mother’s pouch for about six months.
The Quokka eats plants and leaves that grow near the river.
Scientific NameDasyurusAnimal SpeciesMammalRangeAustraliaDietOmnivore
The quoll is a marsupial that lives in Australia.
They are omnivorous and eat insects, small mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, as well as plants.
Scientific NameMacrotisType of AnimalMammalRangeAustraliaDietOmnivore
Rabbit-eared bandicoot is a small marsupial that lives in Australia.
They are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and come out at night to hunt for food.
Scientific Name Macropus rufus Animal Type Range Mammal Australia Diet Herbivore
The red kangaroo is the largest marsupial in the world.
It can grow up to six feet tall and weigh 200 lbs.
This animal is a herbivore, meaning it only eats plants.
Scientific NamePetaurus brevicepsAnimal TypeMammalRangeNew Guinea to TasmaniaDietOmnivora
The short-headed glider is a small marsupial that lives in northern Australia.
As the name suggests, this species has a very small head and long limbs with sharp claws for climbing trees.
Short-tailed opossum
Short-tailed opossum
Scientific NameMonodelphis domesticaType AnimalMammalRangeBrazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and ParaguayDietOmnivore
The short-tailed opossum is the most common marsupial in North America.
In South America, they have been overhunted for their meat and fur so not as many can be found there anymore.
They live near warmer forests and eat lots of insects, small mammals, and fruit.
The baby needs extra nutrients, so the opossum will eat other animals’ feces to get more nutrients for the baby.
Scientific NamePetaurus brevicepsAnimal TypeMammalRangeAustraliaDietOmnivora
Sugar gliders are small nocturnal marsupials that live in Australia.
Scientific NameSarcophilus harrisiiTypes of AnimalsRange MammalsAustraliaDietCarnivores
The Tasmanian Devil is also known as the “Devil” because it is one of the most aggressive animals there is!
It has long been mistaken for a wild dog, but it actually belongs to the marsupial family.
This animal is the size of a small dog and has black fur and white spots on its chest, belly, and buttocks.
Thick-tailed Opossum
Thick-tailed Opossum
Scientific Name Lutreolina crassicaudata Species Range Mammal Mexico to northeastern Argentina Diet Omnivorous
The thick-tailed opossum is one of the most common marsupials found in North America.
It prefers to live in forests and near water, where it sleeps during the day and goes out to find food at night.
Scientific NameDidelphis virginianaAnimal TypeMammalRangeMexicoDietOmnivora
The Virginia opossum is a common marsupial that lives in North America.
This animal has a white face and black eyes, gray-white fur on the back and pink skin under the fur coat.
Opossums have long, hairless tails that can be used to grasp branches.
Scientific Name Notamacropus Animal Type Mammal Range Australia Diet Herbivore
A wallaby is a marsupial that lives in Australia.
It has four species, including Bennett’s Wallaby and Red-necked Pademelon.
Common types of food that these animals eat are grass, leaves, fruit seeds, or flowers of various types of plants.
Scientific Name Macropus robustus Type of Animal Range Mammal Australia Diet Herbivore
Wallaroo is a type of kangaroo that is herbivorous and lives in various parts of Australia.
They are not as common as other types of kangaroos, but they are domesticated in some places.
They are very large and can weigh up to 100 lbs.
Water Opossum
Water Opossum
Scientific NameChironectes minimusTypes of AnimalsMammalRangeMexico to ArgentinaDietOmnivora
The water opossum is found in North America.
It lives by rivers and lakes, but can also be seen near the coast of Florida.
Like all marsupials, these animals have pouches for their offspring that they carry on their stomachs when they are not inside.
Scientific NameVombatidaeTypes of AnimalsRange MammalsAustraliaDietHerbivora
Wombats are marsupials that live in parts of Australia.
They look a little like pigs and have beady, black eyes.
Wombat babies spend a lot of time in their mother’s pouch before they grow big enough to break out and start to live on their own.
Woolly Opossum
Woolly Opossum
Scientific Name Caluromys philanderType AnimalMammalRange Central AmericaDietOmnivore
The Woolly Opossum is a marsupial that lives in Central America.
Living in South Africa I have had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.