Mammal Group

Marsupial Facts for Kids

Marsupials are pouched mammals. Their tiny babies finish growing inside a cozy pouch. Meet kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and more!

Quick Marsupial Facts

Special feature: A pouch for raising tiny babies
Baby name: Joey
How many kinds?: Over 300 species
Where they live: Mostly Australia, plus the Americas
What they eat: Leaves, grass, insects, and meat
Habitats: Deserts, forests, and rainforests

Marsupials are special mammals designed with pouches where their tiny babies grow and develop. These unique animals are found mainly in Australia and nearby islands, with a few species in the Americas. Most marsupials have a pouch on their belly where newborn joeys climb in and drink milk until they are big enough to explore the world.

There are over 300 species of marsupials including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and opossums. These animals give birth to very tiny babies that are not fully developed and must crawl into the mother's pouch to continue growing. Marsupials live in many different habitats from deserts to rainforests and eat a variety of foods including leaves, insects, and meat.

Meet the Marsupials

Tap an animal to learn more about these amazing pouched mammals.

Kangaroos Koalas Wombats Opossums Tasmanian Devils

Cool Facts About Marsupials!

Newborn joeys are tiny! A newborn kangaroo is about the size of a jellybean and crawls into the pouch all by itself.
Koalas sleep almost all day! Koalas can rest for up to 20 hours a day because their leafy food gives them very little energy.
Kangaroos cannot walk backward! Their big back legs and thick tail are built for hopping forward, not stepping back.
Wombats make cube-shaped droppings! The wombat is the only animal known to leave behind poop shaped like little cubes.
Most marsupials live in Australia! Australia is home to more kinds of marsupials than anywhere else on Earth.

Marsupial Questions Kids Ask

What is a marsupial?

A marsupial is a mammal that raises its tiny, newborn babies inside a pouch on the mother's body. Kangaroos and koalas are marsupials.

What is a baby marsupial called?

A baby marsupial is called a joey. It is born very tiny and crawls into the mother's pouch to keep growing and drinking milk.

Where do marsupials live?

Most marsupials live in Australia and nearby islands. A few kinds, like opossums, live in North and South America.

How is a marsupial different from other mammals?

Most mammals grow their babies fully inside the mother's body. A marsupial gives birth to a tiny baby very early, and the baby finishes growing in the pouch.