Why are there so many species of marsupial mammals in Australia?

Answer 1

The main theory for this seems to be that, when the continents shifted and separated thousands of years ago, the Australian continent was left without any large predators. Unlike other continents, which most likely had marsupials and monotremes as well, the Australian continent provided a safe haven for the many unique species to grow and proliferate without being wiped out by larger species.

Answer 2

It is not true that marsupials are found only in Australia. 102 species of marsupials are found in Central and South America, and the Virginia Opossum's range extends (east of the Rockies) from Costa Rica to southeastern Canada. However, except for the Virginia Opossum, marsupials' habitats are limited to in and around Australia and Central and South America.

Marsupials once lived on the continent Gondwana, which split into Antarctica, Australia, and South America. Those on Australia stayed there, which is why about 2/3 of marsupials are found in and around Australia. Antarctica drifted south to the south pole, causing all of the marsupials on it to go extinct. South America joined with North America about 3 million years ago. Some marsupials moved north into Central America, but many more placental mammals moved south into South America.

Answer 3

Whilst it is true that most species of marsupial are found in Australia (there are at least 60 species of kangaroos alone in Australia), it is not the only continent where they are found.
Some species of marsupials are found in New Guinea, some islands of Indonesia, and many more are found in Central and South America. There is also one species of marsupial, the Opossum, in North America. Brushtail Possums and wallabies have also been introduced to New Zealand, but they are not native to the islands.

Answer 4

The terrain of Australia is different from anywhere else. That is where these marsupials can most obtain the natural feel to living conditions.

Further information: there is more to it than that. Much of it has to do with Australia's geographical isolation from the rest of the continents. Unlike the other major continents, with the exception of Antarctica, Australia is not connected to other major land masses. Placental mammals were very few, and because of the lack of predators, marsupials were able to thrive through the millennia. On other continents, placental mammal predators would have easily wiped out most marsupial species.

Answer 5

When marsupials and placental mammals coexist, the marsupials typically go extinct. Although New World opossums survive alongside placental mammals, the introduction of the Red Fox and other placental mammals onto Australia has directly threatened the survival of many native marsupials, like the Numbat. The practices and characteristics of placental mammals are apparently more convenient than the practices and characteristics of marsupials. Anyway, placental mammals never reached Australia, except for the ones that humans have introduced. Thus, the marsupials on Australia and nearby islands have survived, while the marsupials found elsewhere mostly have not.

Answer 6

Because of geographic isolation
Australia evolved many different forms of life rarely found any where else on the planet because it was separated form the other continents for the longest period of time.

Answer 7

No. Whilst it is true that most species of marsupial are found in Australia (there are at least 60 species of kangaroos alone in Australia), it is not the only continent where they are found.

Some species of marsupials are found in New Guinea, some islands of Indonesia, and many more are found in Central and South America. There is also one species of marsupial, the Opossum, in North America. Brushtail Possums and wallabies have also been introduced to New Zealand, but they are not native to the islands.

Answer 8

because they do