The Marsupial Mammals

Marsupials are cute and special. Australia has a unique mammal population of pouched animals instead of placentals. This reproductive strategy allows for greater regulation of fertility by giving birth to undeveloped young and suckling in a pouch while the opportunity is available for another pregnancy. Terrestrial mammals in Australia are marsupials with few exceptions but placentals in the Americas have tended to outcompete marsupials and only the opossum has survived there.