If you did not know, marsupials are mammals that carry their young in a pouch. The popular image is a kangaroo, but the family is wider and more varied. Here is a curated list of notable marsupials from around the world, including both living species and those that have disappeared from the planet.
Shrew opossum
Habitat: South America
Fun Fact: They are carnivores that rely on their whiskers to locate prey.
Bilby
Habitat: Australia
Fun Fact: They are nocturnal omnivores who rarely need to drink water because they typically stay hydrated through their diet.
Pig-footed Bandicoot
Habitat: The plains of Australia, but today presumed extinct
Fun Fact: Typically the size of a kitten, they had functioning toes and hoof-like nails similar to a pig or deer.
Wallaby
Habitat: Australia
Fun Fact: Wallabies are a diverse group of small to medium macropods whose populations spread across Australia and beyond, including some islands in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
Eastern Bettong also known as Rat Kangaroo
Habitat: Australia
Fun Fact: Their greatest threat comes from predation by red foxes, which has driven declines in many regions.
Marsupial mole
Habitat: Western Australia
Fun Fact: They live mostly underground with eyes that are nonfunctional, relying on other senses to navigate sandy soils.
Monito del Monte
Habitat: Chile and Argentina
Fun Fact: The Monito del Monte is a tiny marsupial that measures about 11 to 12.5 centimeters in length.
Numbat
Habitat: Western Australia
Fun Fact: Their diet centers on termites, making them exclusive termite specialists among marsupials.
Tasmanian devil
Habitat: Tasmania, Australia
Fun Fact: They are the largest carnivorous marsupial in their region, known for loud screeches, strong odor, and fierce feeding behavior.
Thylacine also known as the Tasmanian tiger
Habitat: Historically Australia
Fun Fact: The last confirmed individual died in 1933, and there have been no substantiated sightings since, despite occasional rewards and rumors.