Kangaroo pouches are one of the most recognizable physical characteristics that these animals have in store. They provide a warm and cozy home for baby kangaroos, and here are three fun facts that will make you see them in a whole new light.
Secondary Womb
Pouches, also known as a marsupium, serve as somewhat of a secondary womb because joeys complete postnatal development inside them. Baby kangaroos are extremely tiny at the time of their birth, and pouches provide a safe and comfortable environment for their early development.
Feeding Function
Once in the pouch, joeys will fasten onto one of the four teats and start to feed. Since they can’t suckle or swallow right away, the kangaroo mom will use her muscles to pump milk down their throats. They’re usually fed this way until reaching 18 months, and mother kangaroos can even produce two different kinds of milk for newborns and older joeys.
Leaving the Pouch
Young joeys will stay in their mother’s pouch until they’re ready to stand and hop on their own, but not at all times. Once they’re sufficiently well developed, young kangaroos will start leaving the pouch for short periods of time, and they can reach that point at anywhere between six and nine months.
