Marsupials
[Click HERE for a page of helps for the Marsupials Honor.]
[Click HERE for SAIL Pathfinder Club member pages on Marsupials]
Here in Texas, we have only one Marsupial, the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana). They are adapted to almost any central Texas environment, and are frequently seen even in the cities. Like other Marsupials, the Virginia Opossums bear extremely small and under-developed young, which move to their mother's pouch to complete their development. Opossums do "play dead" when threatened, making themselves less appetizing to predators. Opossums do not, however, hang by their tail from trees, despite what the cartoons show. Their prehensile tail is used to assist in climbing, but their body is too heavy to be supported by their tail alone. There are other Marsupials in Central and South America, like the Shrew Opossums and the Monito del Monte.
But the place most people associate with these pouched mammals is Australia. Many of Australia's mammals are Marsupials (and they even have a few Monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals). Many people are familiar with Kangaroos and Koalas, or perhaps even Wallabies. But did you know that the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisiiis) a real Marsupial, also found in Australia? (You can hear what they sound like HERE). There are also Numbats, Quolls, Bandicoots, Bilbies and Marsupial Moles. The Marsupial Honor looks at these interesting animals, where and how they live, and raises some interesting questions, like why do some Marsupial pouches face backwards, and how do we account for so many Marsupials in Australia. As we look at the Marsupials and Monotremes, we can see some of the amazing variations of God's creation, and revisit our role in protecting and conserving the variety of life on the planet.
[Click HERE for SAIL Pathfinder Club member pages on Marsupials]
Here in Texas, we have only one Marsupial, the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana). They are adapted to almost any central Texas environment, and are frequently seen even in the cities. Like other Marsupials, the Virginia Opossums bear extremely small and under-developed young, which move to their mother's pouch to complete their development. Opossums do "play dead" when threatened, making themselves less appetizing to predators. Opossums do not, however, hang by their tail from trees, despite what the cartoons show. Their prehensile tail is used to assist in climbing, but their body is too heavy to be supported by their tail alone. There are other Marsupials in Central and South America, like the Shrew Opossums and the Monito del Monte.
But the place most people associate with these pouched mammals is Australia. Many of Australia's mammals are Marsupials (and they even have a few Monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals). Many people are familiar with Kangaroos and Koalas, or perhaps even Wallabies. But did you know that the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisiiis) a real Marsupial, also found in Australia? (You can hear what they sound like HERE). There are also Numbats, Quolls, Bandicoots, Bilbies and Marsupial Moles. The Marsupial Honor looks at these interesting animals, where and how they live, and raises some interesting questions, like why do some Marsupial pouches face backwards, and how do we account for so many Marsupials in Australia. As we look at the Marsupials and Monotremes, we can see some of the amazing variations of God's creation, and revisit our role in protecting and conserving the variety of life on the planet.
Marsupials Honor Requirements
[Click HERE for a page of helps for the Marsupials Honor.]
1. Distinguish:
A. Mammal from other animals.
B. Placentals, marsupials and monotremes from one another.
2. Understand how marsupials are classified into families and describe, in a general way, the habits of these families.
3. Describe the distribution, habitat (ie. type of country they live in), diet breeding behavior, as well as any other interesting information of twelve different groups of marsupials and monotremes.
4. Be able to explain the difference between marsupial reproduction and that in true mammals (ie. placentals).
5. Explain the significance of the direction of opening of the pouch and the number of young per litter in marsupials.
6. Give an explanation of the unique occurrence of marsupials in Australia.
7. Be able to explain the need for conservation of our marsupials.
8. Write a report of your visit to a natural history museum, wildlife sanctuary, zoo, etc. indicating in about 10-15 lines, the extent of your observations.
1. Distinguish:
A. Mammal from other animals.
B. Placentals, marsupials and monotremes from one another.
2. Understand how marsupials are classified into families and describe, in a general way, the habits of these families.
3. Describe the distribution, habitat (ie. type of country they live in), diet breeding behavior, as well as any other interesting information of twelve different groups of marsupials and monotremes.
4. Be able to explain the difference between marsupial reproduction and that in true mammals (ie. placentals).
5. Explain the significance of the direction of opening of the pouch and the number of young per litter in marsupials.
6. Give an explanation of the unique occurrence of marsupials in Australia.
7. Be able to explain the need for conservation of our marsupials.
8. Write a report of your visit to a natural history museum, wildlife sanctuary, zoo, etc. indicating in about 10-15 lines, the extent of your observations.