Random Fascinating Facts You Probably Never Learned About Marsupials (25 items)

• 

  (#20) Monito del Monte

  • Organism Classification

  Scientists call the adorable South American marsupial monito del monte ("Monkey of the Mountains") a "living fossil" because it is the only living member of the Microbiotheria order, an otherwise extinct species.
• 

  (#23) Potoroo

  • Organism Classification

  There are only just over 100 Gilbert's potoroos in the world, making it the rarest marsupial out there. Scientists are working to conserve the species by keeping it away from its natural predators, such as feral cats and foxes.
• 

  (#6) Wombat

  • Family

  If wombats used emoji they would need their own special little poop symbol. That's because wombats have cube-shaped poop! Why? It just comes out that way, but scientists say it's advantageous because it stays put and helps wombats to better mark their territory.
• 

  (#7) Tasmanian Devil

  • Animal

  Ever sneeze so hard you scare your significant other? Tasmanian devils may be your spirit animal! These little devils put their sneezes to good use by scaring predators away with especially powerful sneezes.
• 

  (#19) Marsupial Moles Have Upside-Down Pouches

  Marsupial moles are very unusual creatures: they're blind, they don't have ears, they're only five inches long, and no one knows how they mate. But one of the coolest "features" of a marsupial mole - which isn't actually a mole - is its upside-down pouch. Why is it flipped around? To keep sand and dirt out when digging.
• 

  (#14) Dunnart

  • Organism Classification

  Dunnarts are the only mammals that can breathe through their skin! Only the newborns can do it, but it's still a neat trick: it allows the teeny-tiny dunnart to live before its lungs are developed.

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking