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Embryonic diapause is, in layman's terms, the ability of a female kangaroo to suspend the development of the embryo during gestation so that it is not born when conditions might compromise its survival, e.g. during drought. Almost all marsupial macropods have the unique feature of embryonic diapause, especially the larger and mid-sized species, such as the red kangaroos, and also many species of wallabies. Even Gilbert's potoroo, a smaller macropod, exhibits embryonic diapause.
The smallest member of the kangaroo family, the musky-rat kangaroo, does not appear to have embryonic diapause; nor do some of the tree kangaroos.
What else can I help you with?
Which marsupial macropods are nocturnal?
All marsupial macropods are nocturnal, or at least crepuscular, feeding at dawn and dusk. None of them are diurnal.
Do rock-wallabies have embryonic diapause?
Yes. Like kangaroos, rock-wallabies do have embryonic diapause. They may indeed keep the development of the embryo in suspension until the optimum time for birth.
What would be the advantage of Embryonic Diapause if the joey in the pouch was to die?
Diapause, has great advantages to the species in that if one young dies, another embryo can quickly take its place.
Is a wallaroo a marsupial?
Yes. Wallaroos are marsupials. Also known as "euros", they are macropods, or members of the kangaroo family.
Kangaroos are best classifled as?
Kangaroos are mammals from the subclass marsupial from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning 'large foot').
What effect does the drought do to the kangaroo's breeding cycle?
The kangaroo (and indeed, other macropods) have embryonic diapause. This means the mother kangaroo can actually suspend the development of the embryo within her body until conditions improve sufficiently to ensure she will have enough nutrition herself to feed a growing joey in her pouch. The embryo will not be born until the mother's internal sensors detect improved conditions.
Do wallabies hibernate in the winter?
No. Wallabies do not hibernate. none of the macropods hibernate. In fact, the only marsupial in Australia which truly hibernates is the Mountain Pygmy Possum.
Explain how the red kangaroo utilities embryonic diapause in conjunction with food availability?
The mother kangaroo spends most of her adult life pregnant, but in drought times, she has the ability to indefinitely "freeze" the development of the young embryo until food sources are replenished. This is called embryonic diapause. Quite simply, the young joey will not be born until or unless there is enough food to nourish the mother and, through her, the suckling joey.
What kind of feet does a kangaroo have?
Kangaroos belong to the marsupial family known as 'macropods'. The word "macropod" is a Greek word meaning long-footed. A macropod is a marsupial with strong hind legs, which tend to use hopping and jumping as their main means of locomotion (movement). Their feet are long, and have sharp claws at the end.
How many babies can a wallaby have in one year?
Generally, wallabies give birth to a single joey in one year. However, almost all wallabies have the unique feature of embryonic diapause, which means they can actually give birth more often. What this means is that the mother wallaby spends most of her adult life pregnant, but in drought times, she has the ability to indefinitely "freeze" the development of the young embryo until food sources are replenished. This is the same with kangaroos, and is called embryonic diapause.
What is the more common name 4 macropods?
The more common name for macropods is Kangaroos and Wallabies. Macropods is more of a 'banister name'. There are many subtitles underneath it. Kangaroos and Wallabies are in the same family, but do have differences.
Which family of mammals does the quokka belong to?
A quokka is a mammal and a marsupial. It is one of the numerous smaller members of the kangaroo family, or "macropods". It is a small, herbivorous macropod endemic to a limited region of Western Australia.
