Marsupial Reproduction :: Marsupials Reproduction Mammals Biolgoy Essays

Marsupial procreationKnowledge can be obtained and conveyed in a variety of ways. unity can spend hours upon hours hidden away in the corner of a library, reading the thoughts and discoveries of other enquiryers and writers. Or, one can onlyow himself to make his hold discoveries through experiments and observations that he makes himself. Both methods are necessary in dedicate to come to a complete understanding of a topic. An experimenter cannot fully rate the things that she observes without having a background in that area. In the same way, a humans does not truly use the knowledge he has gained from book research without applying it to the real world in some way. Knowledge of marsupial nurture is this way. There is much to be learned from the writings of scientists of the past, while at the same time there are many smart discoveries to be made as researchers of the read apply this knowledge to answering new questions. The purpose of this paper is to compile knowledge t hat has already been written on marsupial reproduction, including the topics of marsupial characteristics, reproductive anatomy, sexual behavior, development of young, hormonal control, and ecological implications of reproductive patterns, so that it can be used as a basis for new insights and discoveries.What is a marsupial?Many biologists of the past and present have been intrigued by a group of animals known as marsupials. Marsupials are a subdivision of mammals with several defining characteristics. First, marsupials generally have much incisor teeth than eutherian (placental) mammals. In nigh marsupials, as in most primates, the first toe of the hind foot is opposable to the other four, and it unendingly lacks a claw. Interestingly, most terrestrial marsupials have lost this toe altogether. Marsupials similarly tend to have a smaller brain than eutherians of equivalent surface and their body temperature and rate of metabolism are slightly lower than eutherians. (Gould, 52 ) other(a) important characteristics of marsupials come from their unique reproductive patterns and reproductive system. Externally, differences include such(prenominal) interesting anatomical features as a prepenal scrotum and biparte penes and vaginae in most groups and typically, plainly not always, a pouch over the teats. (Bronson, 187) The major difference is the dramatically abbreviated period of gestation marsupials have adopted and the function of this phenomenon. some marsupials have a gestation period longer than their oestrous cycle. This means that all marsupials give birth to highly altrical