The common brushtail possum is a nocturnal arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae. The species is native to Australia and invasive in New Zealand, and is the second-largest of the possums. It is mainly a folivore (leaf-eater), but has been known to eat small mammals such as rats. In most Australian habitats, eucalyptus leaves are […]
Tag: marsupials
Majority of endangered greater glider habitat in Queensland unprotected, shows study
Researchers at Griffith University have discovered that the majority of critical habitat and movement pathways for southern greater gliders in Queensland lie outside of protected areas. Dr. Patrick Norman and Professor Brendan Mackey used innovative technology to map mature forests to identify potential habitat and corridors that were essential for the survival of the endangered […]
Marsupial Pouches are Even Cooler than We Knew!
Recent findings published in the scientific journal, Current Biology, show that marsupial pouches represent a biological strategy “more evolved” than currently suggested. Marsupials are mammals who evolved to have pouches to carry their young. Scientists long believed they represented an evolutionary step between egg-laying mammals (like the platypus) and mammals who carry their infants to […]
Marsupials might be the more evolved mammals
Mammal evolution has been flipped on its head, according to new research that suggests marsupials are the more evolved mammals. By estimating how the common ancestor of mammals reproduced and developed, scientists have turned over the longstanding belief that marsupials are more primitive than placentals. Marsupials have long been considered the intermediate step in evolution […]
Extremely rare albino echidna named Raffie is found roaming the streets – but you must not approach it
One of Australia’s most rarely seen marsupials has been spotted – but locals have been warned to stay away. Bathurst Regional Council, which sits in central west NSW, posted photos of a snow white albino echidna, which an employee had come across. ‘We thought he is just too beautiful not to share, and particularly rare […]
Kangaroos Increasingly Calling Texas Home But “Pets” They Are Not
Did you know that you can own a kangaroo in Texas? Why you’d want to, we’re not sure. But Texas is one of thirteen states in the U.S. that allows citizens to keep kangaroos as exotic pets. In fact, the animals are surprisingly popular there, partly due to the similarities in environment the Lone Star […]
Dying for sex: endangered male quolls may be mating themselves to death instead of sleeping, scientists say
Male northern quolls seem to sacrifice sleep in favour of having sex, behaviour that might be responsible for their early deaths, suggests new research into the endangered marsupials. Australian scientists have investigated why male northern quolls usually mate themselves to death after one season, while females of the species reproduce once but live up to […]
Wombats the Size of Cars? Be Glad You Didn’t Live Back Then!
Taking a stroll down Mother Nature’s Memory Lane can be fascinating, but it’s also a reminder that humans today couldn’t cope with the everyday perils that lay in wait tens of thousands of years ago. Sharks the size of school buses, avians the size of Sesame Street’s Big Bird, lions that would all but dwarf […]