Marsupial
. Marsupial, common name for a group of mammals typically distinguished by a pouch in the female, called a marsupium, where offspring are carried. The kangaroo , koala , wombat , and opossum are well-known marsupials, as are other less-familiar animals, such as the numbat, bandicoot , ringtail possum, and thylacine . These unusual creatures range in size from the tiny, mouselike ningaui, which measures about 5 cm (about 2 in) long and weighs a mere 2.8 g (0.1 oz), to the gray and red kangaroos, which can reach lengths of 2.5 m (8 ft), stand up to 1.8 m (6 ft) tall, and weigh 90 kg (200 lb). Scientific classification: Marsupials make up the scientific order Marsupialia. The Virginia opossum is classified as Didelphis virginiana and the whiptail wallaby as Macropus parryi. See Pictures of Mammals