1. North American Wildlife
Unusual Mammals
North American Wildlife

2. Marsupials Pouched mammals
Examples: Opossum, kangaroo, wombat, bandicoot
Young born before fully developed
Babies crawl to external pouch to continue development
Nurse off teats that are located in the marsupium

3. Marsupials Female marsupials do not have a placenta like other mammals
Found mostly in Australia

4. Opossum The only marsupials in North America
Give birth after days
Babies the size of bean when born
Can give birth to up to 20 (Only live because of number of nipples available)
Pouch serves as incubator
Carries offspring on back
Prehensile tails
12-20 inches, 4-12 pounds
Omnivores
Nocturnal

6. Shrews and Moles Predatory mammals Insectivores Moles- good at digging
Live solitary lives
Very high metabolism
Short life span
Hardly ever sleep

8. Bats Only mammals to fly under their own power Bear live young
Warm blooded
Hibernate
High frequency sound
Echolocation
Nocturnal

9. Armadillo Related to Anteaters and Sloths Carapace- coat of bony armor
Nocturnal
Omnivores
Live in burrows
Quadruplets
Young stay with mom for two months
Predators- Coyotes, domestic dogs, cars

11. Essay Questions
Describe how reproduction is different in marsupial mammals than it is in placental mammals.
Explain how the metabolic rates of moles and shrews might be related to their short life span.
Explain the method that bats use to navigate safely as they fly in the darkness.