Marsupial babies are some of the cutest around, and they encompass a whole host of different species. From possums to kangaroos, these animals are abundant.
But, what exactly are the babies in the marsupial family called. We all know that kangaroos are endearingly called ‘joeys’, but what about all the others? Are they called the same?
To find out more about what marsupial babies are called, along with a whole host of other interesting things, keep reading below, as we take a closer look.
What Are Marsupial Babies Called?
So, as we mentioned briefly above, kangaroo babies are known as joeys. But, what I’ll bet you didn’t know is that every other baby in the marsupial family are also known as joeys.
That’s right, possums, tasmanian devils, koala bears, and wombat babies are all known as joeys.
Some Different Types Of Marsupial Babies
Now that we’ve covered that marsupial babies are collectively known as joeys, we can move on to discuss some of the different varieties of marsupial babies out there, along with some interesting facts.
1. Koalas
One of the most favored creatures native to Australia, koalas are irresistible when it comes to cuteness.
These creatures are actually known for being some of the ‘stupidest’, in the animal kingdom, because they’re brains are actually not only just small, but completely smooth.
The fact that there are no ridges on their brains means that they aren’t very adept at sensing danger.
So, if a bushfire were to occur, the koala wouldn’t take action to move from the impending danger until the last moment.
But just because they’re not the most intelligent creatures around, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t spectacular at the same time. Some of the most interesting facts about koala bears refer to the joeys of the family.
Koala babies are known to only remain in the womb after conception for around 35 days.
As you can probably guess, when they finally do emerge, they’re only around the size of a jellybean. They’re completely without hair, and cannot see or hear anything.
Despite this, they somehow miraculously manage to climb into their mother’s pouch, where they will continue to develop and survive.
2. Kangaroos
This is probably the marsupial that people are most familiar with – the kangaroo. The joey’s when they are first born, are only slightly larger than koala babies.
They will emerge from their mother’s birth canal when they are around the size of a grape.
They will travel up their mother’s fur, completely unaided, until they’re comfortably nestled within the pouch.
When they are first born, they’re not actually able to suckle for milk, so the mother will pump the milk herself to feed her baby.
It is not until 4 months later, when the baby is partially developed, that they will dare to venture out of the pouch.
When they do so, it will only be for short periods of time. When it is 10 months old, it will be considered grown enough to leave the safety of the pouch.
3. Possums
Another variety of marsupial joeys are possums. These cute little creatures have a similar birthing process to the rest of the marsupials on our list, but they differ in some ways.
The possum mother is pregnant for only 12 days! After which, she will give birth to a litter of possum babies.
Unlike many other marsupials, including the aforementioned ones above, the possum mother will give birth to a litter of babies, sometimes up to 20.
Unfortunately, not all of these babies will survive. They’re around the size of a small bee when they’re born, and not all will be strong enough to climb into the pouch.
But the ones who do will stay in the pouch for approximately two months.
After this, they will emerge from the safety of their mother’s pouch, and ride on her back in order to get around. The possum mother can actually carry an amazing (see also: 5 Amazing Facts About Brushtail Possums)15 of her children on their back.
If a baby possum is ever in danger, in order to protect themselves, they will ‘play dead’. They will either faint, or pass out momentarily, and this will be enough to trick their prey into thinking that they’re no longer alive.
They are nocturnal creatures, and will only normally venture out during the nighttime.
4. Wombats
Another common type of marsupial that you might already be familiar with is the wombat. Wombats are known for being incredibly reserved, and spending the majority of their time burrowed underground.
The babies are born in the same way as other marsupials, highly underdeveloped until they reach the pouch. They will remain there for a total of 6 months before they’re fully developed.
They are excellent diggers, and feed puerley on grassland. Their digestive systems are unique in the sense that they can take up to a week in order to properly digest their food.
In order to protect themselves from potential predators, the wombat will use its incredible tough behind to swat away any potential danger(see also: Are Wombats Dangerous?).
5. Tasmanian Devils
Tasmanian devils are renowned for their unique call, which sounds very much like a scream.
These cute creatures can be a little bit intimidating when they shriek, which the babies also produce in order to ward away potential prey.
The babies are some of the smallest in the marsupial family when they emerge from the birth canal, equating to around the size of a grain of rice.
Even the babies are highly adept at fighting off potential danger, purely because of their powerful teeth.
Tasmanian devils are known as predators that completely devour their prey, including all of the internal organs, hair, and bones.
That’s right! The teeth of Tasmanian devils are actually so strong that they’re actually able to gnaw through bones.
They won’t feed regularly, but when they do, they make sure to consume as much as possible until their next meal.
Because they’re able to consume so much food, up to around 40 percent of their entire body weight, this means that they have to store some of it in their tail.
That’s right, their tails can begin to look incredibly heavy, as they’re so full of food items!
When it comes to sleeping habits, Tasmanian devils will actually sleep in the bodies of their prey after they’ve devoured them, including the babies.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, all babies who are a part of the marsupial family are known as ‘joeys’.
When marsupials first emerge from the womb, they’re incredibly small and helpless, and have to climb into their mother’s pouches in order to carry out the remainder of their development.
Hi, I’m Olivia Kepner and I am a zookeeper here in San Diego. Since I was a young girl I have always been fascinated by animals and species across the globe.
I used to beg my parents to take me to our local zoo every single weekend. Well, I say local – it was more like a two hour drive away. But they took me as much as they could, allowing me to fall in love with the animals again and again.
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