KANGAROO (MARSUPIAL)
Worldwide, there are approximately 272 species of marsupials (subclass Metatheria). The vast majority (about 200 species) live in the Australian region, while another 70 marsupial species are found in Central and South America.

A marsupial youngster is so tiny at birth that its mother's pouch is effectively the only environment in which it could survive. Infants typically weigh less than 1% of their mother's body weight.

At birth, newborn marsupials emerge from their mother's reproductive tract and crawl immediately and instinctively into her pouch. Using their forelimbs, the young pull themselves along the mother's belly by grasping hairs and begin to suckle from her nipples.