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Reproductive Strategies and Biology of the Australasian Marsupials

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American and Australasian Marsupials

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Abstract

The Australasian marsupials, found in Australia, New Guinea, and surrounding islands, are a diverse and extraordinary group of mammals inhabiting environments from deserts to tropical rainforests and sandy islands to snow-covered alps. Their reproductive strategies and biology are as remarkable as the species themselves. Gestation can be completed in under 11 days, tiny young are born weighing less than 5 mg, females can simultaneously produce milk of two different compositions for young of different ages (all while a third sits in suspended animation awaiting its birth), and males weighing as little as 5 g hold the record for the longest sperm of any mammal. This chapter describes reproductive physiology, behaviors, and strategies, from mate choice and conception, to weaning and sexual maturity, in the four Australasian marsupial Orders; Diprotodontia (koalas, wombats, possums, kangaroos, potoroos, and their relatives), Peramelemorphia (bandicoots and bilbies), Dasyuromorphia (carnivorous marsupials), and Notoryctemorphia (marsupial moles). While marsupial reproduction is categorized by short gestations, the birth of altricial young, long lactation periods, and development of young in a pouch, here the chapter further explores their myriad of diverse and wondrous strategies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Marissa L. Parrott

  2. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dubbo, NSW, Australia

    Amy M. Edwards

  3. University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

    Amy M. Edwards

Authors
  1. Marissa L. Parrott
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  2. Amy M. Edwards
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marissa L. Parrott .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil

    Nilton C. Cáceres

  2. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

    Christopher R. Dickman

Section Editor information

  1. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Christopher R. Dickman

  2. Laboratório de Mastozoologia, Departamento de Ecologia e Evolução, CCNE, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

    Nilton Cáceres Ph.D.

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Parrott, M.L., Edwards, A.M. (2023). Reproductive Strategies and Biology of the Australasian Marsupials. In: Cáceres, N.C., Dickman, C.R. (eds) American and Australasian Marsupials. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88800-8_37-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88800-8_37-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-88800-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-88800-8

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