What are pouched mammals?

"Pouched mammals" is a term used to refer to marsupials, a group of mammals that give birth to relatively undeveloped young that complete their development in a pouch on the mother's abdomen.

Here's a breakdown of key characteristics:

* Birth: Marsupials give birth to very small, underdeveloped young called joeys.

* Pouch: The young immediately crawl into a pouch on the mother's belly, where they attach to a teat and continue developing.

* Development: The pouch provides protection, warmth, and milk for the joey to grow.

* Distribution: Marsupials are mainly found in Australia, New Guinea, and the Americas (with opossums being the only native marsupials in North and South America).

Examples of pouched mammals (marsupials):

* Kangaroos

* Koalas

* Wombats

* Tasmanian Devils

* Opossums

* Sugar Gliders

* Bandicoots

* Wallabies

* Quolls

It's important to note that while all marsupials are pouched mammals, not all pouched mammals are marsupials. For example, some species of rodents have pouches, but they are not marsupials.