Definition of marsupial Marsupial

/mɑɹsuˈpiʌl/ - [marsupeeul] - mar•su•pi•al

We found 10 definitions of marsupial from 6 different sources.

What does marsupial mean?

Noun Plural: marsupials
marsupial - mammals of which the females have a pouch (the marsupium) containing the teats where the young are fed and carried
		pouched mammal
		metatherian primitive pouched mammals found mainly in Australia and the Americas
		marsupialia, order marsupialia coextensive with the subclass Metatheria
		opossum, possum nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail found from southern North America to northern South America
		opossum rat terrestrial marsupials of southern South America that resemble shrews
		bandicoot any of various agile ratlike terrestrial marsupials of Australia and adjacent islands; insectivorous and herbivorous
		kangaroo any of several herbivorous leaping marsupials of Australia and New Guinea having large powerful hind legs and a long thick tail
		phalanger, opossum, possum small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long usually prehensile tails
		wombat burrowing herbivorous Australian marsupials about the size of a badger
		dasyurid, dasyurid marsupial small carnivorous nocturnal marsupials of Australia and Tasmania
Adjective
marsupial - of or relating to the marsupials; "marsupial animals"

= synonym
= antonym
= related word

marsupial (Noun)
A mammal of which the female has a pouch in which it rears its young, which are born immature, through early infancy, such as the kangaroo or koala, or else pouchless members of the Marsupialia like the shrew opposum.
marsupial (Adjective)
Of or pertaining to a marsupial.

marsupial (a.)
Having a pouch for carrying the immature young; of or pertaining to the Marsupialia.
marsupial (a.)
Of or pertaining to a marsupium; as, the marsupial bones.
marsupial (n.)
One of the Marsupialia.

Marsupials are a type of mammals. This group is also called "Marsupialia" or "Metatheria".

They give birth to living babies and they feed their babies milk. But their babies are born very young and very small. Marsupials have a special pouch where they carry their babies. After the birth the baby goes into its mother's pouch, where it can drink milk and is kept warm and safe. When the babies are very young they stay in the pouch all the time, but when they are older they can leave it for short times. When they are old enough and too big for the pouch they do not go into their mother's pouch anymore.