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Glite Dictionary
Marsupialia

Marsupialia

1 9.9
A group of mammals whose mothers carry their very young in a pouch
  • noun
  • /mɑrˈsuːpiˌeɪliə/
  • Specialized
: Marsupialia
  • Did you know that Marsupialia are unique to Australia?

Examples

  • Koalas, wombats, and opossums are all members of the Marsupialia order.

  • Scientists study the evolutionary adaptations of Marsupialia to understand their diversity.

  • The kangaroo belongs to the Marsupialia, a group native to Australia and nearby islands.

  • Marsupialia includes animals like kangaroos and koalas.

  • The Tasmanian devil is a member of the order Marsupialia known for its unique appearance and vocalizations.

  • A baby kangaroo, called a joey, spends its early life safely in its mother's Marsupialia pouch.

  • Many animals in the Marsupialia order are native to Australia, showcasing a diverse range of species.

Synonyms

Metatheria
vsMarsupialia
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of mammals that usually carry not fully developed young in a pouch, like kangaroos

is a narrower mammal order defined by undeveloped young carried and suckled in a pouch

Surface Forms

Marsupialia singular
Marsupialias plural

Morphology

Marsupialia = marsupial (transparent) = marsupial + ia

The form is clearly built from the English noun 'marsupial' plus the taxonomic/group-forming suffix '-ia', so learners knowing 'marsupial' can infer it names the group.

Etymology

Marsupialia comes from the Latin word marsupium, which means 'pouch'. That's because these mammals, like kangaroos and koalas, carry and feed their very young in a pouch, so the name refers to their pouch.