Marsupials
Don't Call Wombats Heroes, but Their Burrows Do Provide Food, Water and Shelter for Other Animals
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 story
Tiny and Rare, a Blind Mole That 'Swims' Through Desert Sand Is Spotted in Australia
Typically seen just five to ten times per decade, the elusive species has now been found for the second time in six months
Watch This Year's 'Dance Your PhD' Contest Winner, a Musical Celebration of Kangaroo Behavior
“Kangaroo Time” took home the competition’s overall prize, while interpretive dances on early life adversity, circadian rhythms and streambank erosion were also honored
As the Planet Warms, Australia's Numbats Are at Risk of Overheating
The endangered, squirrel-sized marsupials forage for termites during the day—but they can become too hot after just ten minutes in direct sunlight, according to new research
More Mammals Can Glow in the Dark Than Previously Thought
A new study found that 125 different mammal species are fluorescent under ultraviolet light, suggesting the property is widespread
Scientists Collect First RNA From an Extinct Tasmanian Tiger
No other RNA has ever been extracted from an extinct species, so the breakthrough opens doors to understanding the biology of long-gone organisms
The Unlikely Survival Story of Australia's Bandicoots
The defenseless marsupial was nearly wiped out by invasive species. Now rescuers are pinning hopes on a remnant island population
Scientists Begin Vaccinating Wild Koalas Against Chlamydia
The effort is part of a field trial to limit the debilitating bacterial disease that can cause infertility, blindness and death
Too Much Sex and Too Little Sleep Can Kill These Endangered Marsupials
A study finds male northern quolls forgo rest to travel up to 6.5 miles in one night in search of a mate—the equivalent of a human walking 25 miles
Why the Idea of Bringing the Tasmanian Tiger Back From Extinction Draws So Much Controversy
Using gene-editing technology, researchers hope to “de-extinct” the iconic marsupial carnivore
How Australia’s Eastern Barred Bandicoot Came Back From Extinction
With help from a captive breeding program and the watchful eyes of sheepdogs, the small mammal has been reintroduced to the country’s plains
Wombats Poop Cubes, and Scientists Finally Got to the Bottom of It
The marsupial’s unique digestive tract forms square dung
Wombats and Tasmanian Devils Glow Under Ultraviolet Light
Preliminary experiments suggest even more species of mammals may possess the UV glow
Kangaroos Communicate With Humans Like Dogs in Experiments
The study suggests people may have previously underestimated the communication abilities of other non-domesticated species
Study Offers Hope for Tasmanian Devils, Once Thought Doomed by Infectious Cancer
In the late 1990s, one affected devil infected an average of 3.5 others, but now each only infects about one
300-Pound, Wombat-Like Creature Once Roamed Australia
Paleontologists describe a new species of extinct Australian marsupial that is most closely related to modern wombats but was the size of a black bear
Swamp Wallabies Can Get Pregnant While Pregnant
These marsupials can conceive during the final days of an ongoing pregnancy, creating a “backup” embryo ready to take its predecessor’s place
You Can Visit This Australian Island, but Only if You Pledge to Skip the Wombat Selfie
The marsupials on Maria Island are so docile, tourism officials are asking the public to stop getting so close
Can Scientists Save an Endangered Marsupial by Breeding Out Its Taste for Poisonous Toads?
Some northern quolls do not eat deadly cane toads. New research suggests their aversion is an inherited trait
Endangered Eastern Quolls Are Born on Mainland Australia for the First Time in 50 Years
Three of the feisty marsupials, which had been reintroduced to the wild, were found with joeys in their pouches
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