https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/marsupials/RSS feed for MarsupialsenMon, 09 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-thought-these-marsupials-went-extinct-6000-years-ago-they-just-found-the-animals-alive-180988312/The pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider are rare examples of "Lazarus species"Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-thought-these-marsupials-went-extinct-6000-years-ago-they-just-found-the-animals-alive-180988312/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-tiny-endangered-creature-that-moves-like-greased-lightning-has-been-found-in-an-unexpected-place-180986749/Trail cameras captured an elusive Leadbeater's possum in the Australian state of New South Wales, where they were thought to be locally extinctThu, 05 Jun 2025 19:59:56 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-tiny-endangered-creature-that-moves-like-greased-lightning-has-been-found-in-an-unexpected-place-180986749/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-eastern-quolls-get-released-on-mainland-australia-in-a-new-bid-to-reestablish-the-magic-little-animal-180986545/Conservationists recently introduced 15 of the polka-dotted marsupials into a protected area of New South WalesThu, 01 May 2025 18:31:41 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-eastern-quolls-get-released-on-mainland-australia-in-a-new-bid-to-reestablish-the-magic-little-animal-180986545/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/authorities-snipe-hundreds-of-koalas-from-helicopters-in-controversial-aerial-cull-in-australia-180986510/Between 600 and 700 of the marsupials were killed from the air, likely for the first time in the country's history. Officials say the decision, which has prompted backlash, was made to minimize the animals' suffering after a bushfireFri, 25 Apr 2025 20:22:53 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/authorities-snipe-hundreds-of-koalas-from-helicopters-in-controversial-aerial-cull-in-australia-180986510/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-a-stuffed-animal-named-billy-possum-triedand-failedto-replace-the-teddy-bear-as-americas-national-toy-180986072/In 1909, wealthy widow Susie W. Allgood marketed a plush marsupial inspired by President William Howard Taft. But children thought the toy looked "too much like a rat," and it sold poorlyMon, 03 Mar 2025 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-a-stuffed-animal-named-billy-possum-triedand-failedto-replace-the-teddy-bear-as-americas-national-toy-180986072/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-produced-the-first-kangaroo-embryos-through-ivf-they-could-be-key-to-marsupial-conservation-in-australia-180986013/With continued work in the future, the team hopes to promote live births of endangered marsupial species, including Tasmanian devils, koalas and northern hairy-nosed wombatsFri, 07 Feb 2025 18:22:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-produced-the-first-kangaroo-embryos-through-ivf-they-could-be-key-to-marsupial-conservation-in-australia-180986013/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-110-year-old-pickled-thylacine-head-helped-build-the-most-complete-ancient-genome-to-date-says-de-extinction-company-180985308/Colossal Biosciences reports it extracted DNA and RNA from the Tasmanian tiger specimen, a key step forward in its effort to create a modern proxy of the extinct species. Other scientists are calling for data to back up the claimMon, 28 Oct 2024 16:01:37 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-110-year-old-pickled-thylacine-head-helped-build-the-most-complete-ancient-genome-to-date-says-de-extinction-company-180985308/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dont-call-wombats-heroes-but-their-burrows-do-provide-food-water-and-shelter-for-other-animals-180984522/During Australia’s devastating bushfires in 2019 and 2020, misinformation spread about wombats welcoming animals into their underground homes—but a new study finds a kernel of truth in the viral storyTue, 11 Jun 2024 19:37:11 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dont-call-wombats-heroes-but-their-burrows-do-provide-food-water-and-shelter-for-other-animals-180984522/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tiny-and-rare-a-blind-mole-that-swims-through-desert-sand-is-spotted-in-australia-180984138/Typically seen just five to ten times per decade, the elusive species has now been found for the second time in six monthsThu, 11 Apr 2024 18:21:38 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tiny-and-rare-a-blind-mole-that-swims-through-desert-sand-is-spotted-in-australia-180984138/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-this-years-dance-your-phd-contest-winner-a-musical-celebration-of-kangaroo-behavior-180983865/“Kangaroo Time” took home the competition’s overall prize, while interpretive dances on early life adversity, circadian rhythms and streambank erosion were also honoredWed, 28 Feb 2024 18:26:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-this-years-dance-your-phd-contest-winner-a-musical-celebration-of-kangaroo-behavior-180983865/