23 Types of Marsupials: Species, Identification, Photos

Marsupials aren't just kangaroos and koalas. Over 300 pouched mammals await your discovery. This post explores 23 types of marsupial species, from the carnivorous Tasmanian devil to the flying Feathertail glider.

What is a marsupial?

Marsupials differ from other mammals with their unique reproductive strategy. Many marsupial species birth underdeveloped offspring that continue growing within the mother's pouch, a defining feature of marsupials. This pouch houses multiple teats to provide sustenance for the young.

Unlike placental mammals, marsupials have compact skulls. They maintain lower body temperatures relative to similar-sized mammals and have an additional epipubic bone that supports their pouch.

Classification of Marsupial Species

Marsupials belong to the mammalian infraclass Marsupialia and are classified into two superorders:

1. Australian Marsupials, which include:

• Dasyuromorphia- Carnivorous marsupials like quolls and Tasmanian devils (73 species).
• Peramelemorphia- Omnivorous marsupials such as bilbies (27 species).
• Diprotodontia- Herbivorous marsupials like kangaroos and koalas (136 species).
• Notoryctemorphia- two species of marsupial moles.
• Microbiotheria- the only living extant species is colocolo opossum.

2. American Marsupials, featuring:

• Didelphimorphia- opossums (93 species).
• Paucituberculata- shrew opossums (7 species).

In the following sections, explore one or more members of each family of each order in greater detail.

23 Types of Marsupials

Quick links to the types of marsupial species:

1. Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus)

The Red Kangaroo is Australia's largest terrestrial mammal and the world's largest living marsupial. With a substantial body length of 4.3–5.3 feet and an additional 3.9 feet tail length, male Red Kangaroos, colloquially named "Big Reds," eclipse the females in size. 

Like most Australian marsupials, this Kangaroo species thrives in arid areas, grasslands, and shrublands.

Body fur varies between the sexes—males sport a red-brown hue, while females exhibit a blue-grey tone. Notably, females tote forward-facing marsupial pouches harboring four mammae.

Their size, however, doesn't impede their survival in an arid environment. These creatures can conserve water and consume sufficient fresh vegetation, even when everything appears brown and dry. Credit goes to their highly efficient kidneys and their preference for fresh grasses⁹.

2. Red-necked Wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus)

Red-necked Wallabies, a common sight in the coastal forests of Queensland, northeastern New South Wales, and Tasmania, are most noticeable for the reddish fur on their napes and shoulders. 

They also have fawny gray bodies, white chests and bellies, gray hands, and feet that darken at the digit ends. Note their dark brown muzzles and relatively long ears.

These marsupials are predominantly grazers. They feed mainly on grasses and herbs, resorting to juicy roots during dry spells as a water source.

3. Bennett's Tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus bennettianus)

Bennett's tree-kangaroo, Australia's largest arboreal mammal, inhabits the tropical rainforests of northeastern Queensland. Unlike ground-dwelling kangaroos, this species has evolved longer forelimbs and shorter hindlimbs, indicating adaptation for their tree-dwelling lifestyle.

Their coat is also predominantly dark brown, offset by a lighter chin, throat, and belly. Noteworthy facial features include black feet, a gray forehead, and a rust-colored snout. This mammal is nocturnal, using its tail as a counterbalance for navigating high among the canopy under darkness.

Extraordinarily, Bennett's tree kangaroos can safely drop 30 feet from trees to the ground, thanks to their body structure. Foliage, particularly Ganophyllum, Aidia, and Schefflera trees, form the staple of their diet, supplemented by fruit when available.

4. Musky Rat-kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus)

The Musky Rat-kangaroo is the only known species in the Hypsiprymnodontidae family. This creature resides in the tropical rainforests of Australia, in regions flush with vegetation.

Its physical attributes include a velvety brown or rusty gray fur coat accented by a paler creamy tan belly. Resembling an opossum, the scaly tail and thin, round ears lacking fur enhance its distinct appearance. Tiny, uneven claws characterize their soft paws.

Unlike other macropods, this rat-kangaroo mobilizes on all fours instead of leaning on the rear two like its kin. Their tails serve a dual purpose, assisting in gathering nesting materials such as dried grass ferns and lichens. 

Diet-wise, they primarily consume insects, complementing their meals with worms, tuberous roots, and palm berries. Their agility, keen evasion abilities, and shy nature make observing them a laborious but rewarding task.

5. Brush-tailed Bettong (Bettongia penicillata)

The Brush-tailed Bettong, often called the woylie, has a grayish-yellow body. Its distinct tail displays a black crest in the final third section. Once abundant, this species is now native only to southwest Western Australia.

Known for its strong fore-claws, the woylie digs up fungi, its main food source. Tubers, seeds, insects, and Hakea laurina resin supplement its diet.

Sadly, the IUCN has labeled the woylie critically endangered⁷. This is due to a 90% drop in population due to predators like feral cats and red foxes. 

6. Common Striped Possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata)

The Common Striped Possum is a distinct creature native to Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. It resides primarily in tropical rainforests and adjacent woodlands. Much like a black and white squirrel in appearance, its coarse fur is adorned with three black stripes that run longitudinally.

Adult pelage showcases a striking contrast, smoothly transitioning from black to white, which grays with age. Their bushy tail, usually darker on top, extends longer than their body, ending either black or white.

As nocturnal and arboreal beings, these Australian possums have elongated fourth fingers to extract beetles and caterpillars from tree bark¹, demonstrating their insectivorous diet.

7. Mountain Pygmy Possum (Burramys parvus)

The Mountain Pygmy Possum, or burramys, inhabits the alps of Victoria and New South Wales in Australia. Small and marsupial, it resembles a rodent with a prehensile tail and dexterous forepaws. 

Its fur is fine and dense, with a gray dorsal side and light cream underside. Males turn fawn-orange during breeding season. This nocturnal possum spends the day sleeping and opts to find food at night. Unlike other Burramyidae family members, it lives on the ground and prefers eating Bogong moths.

Unfortunately, the Mountain Pygmy Possum is critically endangered⁸. Its population is fragmented, with declining mature individuals and habitat quality. According to 2008 data, around 1,700 adult females and 550 adult males exist.

8. Feathertail Glider (Acrobates pygmaeus)

Feathertail Gliders are the world's smallest gliding mammal. This diminutive marsupial hails from the tall forests and woodlands of eastern Australia. They live in colonies and are active at night.

Their soft, silky fur sports a grayish-brown hue on the upper body and a stark white underside. Identifying them isn't a challenge, thanks to their distinctive gliding membranes spanning between their limbs. These, partnered with a feather-like tail, make their silhouette distinguishable.

These animals adapt well to temperature drops, enduring torpor bouts of up to 5.5 days. These gliders are likely pollinators equipped⁶ with brush-like tongues and perfectly structured to gather pollen. 

Omnivorous by nature, the Feathertail Glider consumes nectar, pollen, and small arthropods like ants and termites. Though arboreal, it sometimes indulges in some ground-based foraging.

9. Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

The Common Brushtail Possum, widely distributed in Australia and Tasmania, prefers woodland areas. It features large eyes, tall, rounded ears, and a bushy tail. Its fur is short and dense, and the color varies—gray, red, or black with a lighter underside.

Being predominantly arboreal and nocturnal, it leads a solitary lifestyle, establishing distance through scent markings and vocalizations.

Its varied diet favors Eucalyptus leaves, flowers, shoots, fruits, and seeds. It also consumes insects, bird eggs, chicks, and other small vertebrates. This possum diversifies its menu, unlike koalas and greater gliders, which focus on one plant species.

10. Northern Common Cuscus (Phalanger orientalis)

The Northern Common Cuscus inhabits northern New Guinea, extending to the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. These additional island populations resulted from prehistorical introductions. 

This species consistently prefers tropical rainforests and dense scrub. Its habitat is fairly consistent across its range. 

The adult males have wooly, white to gray fur, while females range from reddish-brown to brownish-gray. Both sexes have a white stomach and patches behind their ears. Males also display a yellowish-orange chest gland.

The Northern Common Cuscus consumes a diet of leaves, tree seeds, fruits, buds, and flowers. Despite their slow climbing, they are efficient feeders in their environment.

11. Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)

The Common Ringtail Possum lives along Australia's eastern coastline, Tasmania, and southwestern Western Australia. This animal favors areas with abundant eucalyptus commonly found in dense brush forests. 

Predominantly, it has brown or reddish fur on top and lighter shades below. Its large night-adapted eyes and opposable front foot claws are notable. A mostly hairless prehensile tail kept tightly curled when idle aids in navigation.

Unique traits set this species apart. These include rounded ears with white patches above and on them and a tapered tail with a white tip. The Common Ringtail Possum is a nocturnal creature, feeding chiefly on eucalyptus leaves, supplemented by flowers, buds, nectar, and fruit.

12. Honey Possum (Tarsipes rostratus)

The Honey Possum, also called noolbenger locally, calls the southwest woodlands of Western Australia its home. This animal, barely larger than a mouse but bearing facial features similar to a possum, stands out with its long muzzle and distinct brown stripes trailing from head to rump.

The honey possum has an elongated snout about two and a half times its width and a versatile tongue. Brush-tipped and matching the length of its head, the tongue is vital in its diet.

Unlike other marsupials, Honey Possums eat nectar and pollen. Their tongues, covered in long filiform papillae and stiffened by a keratinized keel³, easily scoop up these food sources. The animal's habitat, abundant in various flora, supports this dietary preference.

13. Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

The Common Wombat, an Australian native, thrives in temperate, burrowing-friendly areas. Its sturdy build, rounded head, and short, clawed limbs equip it well for a subterranean life. Small, dark eyes and rounded ears epitomize its adaptability to its environment.

Find out about their cube-shaped poops and tough rear ends in our list of wombat facts.

14. Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Australia's koalas are the lone survivors of the Phascolarctidae family. They eat largely eucalypt leaves, meaning they sleep most of their days. Their distinct fur, ranging from gray-brown to white, varies geographically. Their large, clawed paws aid their tree-dwelling lives.

Find more about their diet and growls in our list of koala facts.

15. Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)

The Tasmanian Devil currently resides solely in Tasmania. Historically, its range extended across the Australian mainland until its extinction about 3500 years ago². Fossil evidence suggests that this extinction was likely triggered by climatic change, human activity, and the introduction of the dingo.

In 1936, this creature became the largest carnivorous marsupial after the extinction of its close relative, the Tasmanian Tiger or Tasmanian Wolf. It boasts a stocky build, a large head, and a half-body-length tail. Its forelimbs are slightly longer than its hind—an unusual trait among marsupials.

As predators, Tasmanian Devils can tackle prey up to the size of a small kangaroo. However, they tend to be opportunistic and frequently consume carrion. Their diet varies widely, depending on available food sources, from wombats, which they favor for easy predation and high-fat content, to wallabies, birds, fish, insects, fruits, and vegetables.

Learn more about their devilish nature in our list of Tasmanian devil facts.

16. Marsupial Shrew (Phascolosorex)

Marsupial shrews are forest dwellers, existing as two separate species. The Red-bellied marsupial shrew is native to Papua Province, inhabiting the Vogelkop Peninsula, the Weyland Range, and the northwestern slopes of the Central Cordillera. 

Conversely, the Narrow-striped marsupial shrew is distributed across the Central Cordillera of New Guinea, stretching from the Arfaks in the west to the Huon in the east, covering both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

17. Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)

The Numbat, a marsupial native to Western Australia, is the only extant species of the family Myrmecobiidae. Its existence is now endangered, with less than 1000 mature individuals spotted in the wild.

Unlike other marsupials, Numbats are diurnal. Their diet predominantly consists of termites, which they can only forage during the day when they are active in shallow ground because they lack the strength to break the mounds⁵.

The Numbat flaunts a striking pattern of stripes and a fine pointed muzzle, with colors ranging from soft gray to reddish-brown. Its bushy tail, as long as its body, completes its look.

18. Southern Marsupial Mole (Notoryctes typhlops)

The Southern Marsupial Mole is a desert dweller found in Australia's central regions. It's known to reside in sandy dune environments covered with dense vegetation.

Its appearance is distinctive, and it sports short and dense fur. The soil stains its original pale cream to white color, turning it reddish-brown. Its nose and mouth are light brownish-pink.

It lacks both eyes and an optic nerve. Its supposed ear openings are just fur, and the nostrils are tiny vertical openings.

These marsupials are insectivores, showing a clear preference for ants and their eggs. The mole's existence, a story of endurance, speaks to the tenacity of nature in an inhospitable desert climate.

19. Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis)

Greater Bilbies were once widespread across Australia's arid and semi-arid regions. Large ears and a long, pointed snout define their distinctive look. Their fur is bluish-gray and fawn with a white underbelly. 

Bilbies are also nocturnal omnivores, getting moisture from a diverse diet that includes insects, seeds, small animals, and fungi. 

Despite a wide former range, their population has reduced to fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. Recent generations' decline of over 10% resulted in their vulnerable status.

20. Golden Bandicoot (Isoodon auratus)

The Golden Bandicoot, native to Australia, once inhabited the continent's interior swathes. Now, they're limited to small territories in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. 

Compact in form, these marsupials sport sharp claws and a long nose. Their fur is a golden brown, streaked with black over the body's top and sides. Amber hues mark their belly and feet, contrasting against stiff, coarse hair. Rounded ears, dark eyes, and a sparse-haired tail lend them a rat-like look. 

Primarily nocturnal, the golden bandicoot spends its days sleeping in foliage or tree hollows. For this purpose, it constructs nests with sticks, leaves, and grass. At night, it awakens to forage. It digs shallow pits, sourcing its water primarily from succulents, while also eating plant roots and invertebrates.

21. Colocolo Opossum (Dromiciops gliroides)

The Colocolo Opossum, or Monito del Monte, is a small marsupial native to the dense forests of highland Argentina and Chile. It resides mostly in trees, where it constructs spherical nests. It is the only species of the order Microbiotheria and shares a closer relationship with Australian marsupials than with its American counterparts⁴.

This marsupial resembles a mouse, with a petite, rounded body and small ears. Its skin is covered in a short and dense coat of predominantly brownish-gray fur. White patches adorn its shoulders and rump, while its underbelly ranges from yellowish white to pale gray. One of its pronounced traits is its black-ringed eyes.

A major part of the Colocolo Opossum's diet includes insects, their larvae, and pupae found on tree branches and in cracks in the bark. Butterflies and moths are also part of their meal plan. The austral summer season brings a shift in their diet. They eat large quantities of fruits, most notably mistletoe fruits.

22. Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

The Virginia Opossum is the only marsupial in North America. It thrives in forests, open woods, and farmlands. Its defensive behavior of mimicking death has earned it the famed phrase "playing possum.”

Recognizable by its grayish-brown coat and white face, this marsupial uses its bare, prehensile tail to grasp branches and objects. It also sports 50 teeth—the highest count among North American land mammals—and female Virginia opossums feature 13 nipples arranged circularly.

As an opportunistic omnivore, the Virginia Opossum partakes in a varied diet encompassing plants, small creatures, carrion, and eggs, contributing significantly to its ecosystem's balance.

23. Dusky Caenolestid (Caenolestes fuliginosus)

The Silky Shrew Opossum is part of the seven species in the Caenolestidae family, native to South America. 

They inhabit alpine forests in Ecuador, Columbia, and Venezuela, showing a glossily clad dark fur that's soft as a feather. 

Profoundly solitary, their activity peaks in the early evening, combing the terrestrial space before ascending into trees. They rest beneath tree roots once the day breaks. 

Their diet consists mainly of insects, though they also resort to gobbling vertebrates and foliage when available.