Blog Post module 9

A trait on an animal that has always fascinated me is the pouch on a kangaroo. I always thought it was more like a pocket on the outside of the kangaroos stomach, but it looks and seems a whole lot more intricate than that. It is a fold on the skin that is exclusive to females. The pouch is hairless on the inside and allows the offspring to feed off the mother's milk. The pouch covers their breasts, and due to this it forms an epidermal bag which takes the role of an incubator. This is an adaptation that enables the offspring to be cared for at different stages of their life/development. They use this pouch to carry their babies and nurse them while still being quite mobile. Something that was very new to me was that the inside lining of the pouch is lined with sweat glands that release antimicrobial liquid. This is to ensure the health and safety of the offspring. 




Comments

  1. Lauren LeikerNovember 1, 2021 at 11:54 AM

    Hi Megan, I myself am fascinated by kangaroos. It’s interesting how the pouch on the female kangaroo serves the role of an incubator. Not only are the kangaroo mothers providing a safe place for their offspring, but they also play a role in keeping their offspring healthy as they develop. Very cool!

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  2. Tatum GlaserNovember 4, 2021 at 10:25 AM

    Hi Megan! I have always thought kangaroos were fascinating because of their pouch! I wanted to write about this as well but I wasn't able to find any sources on the evolution of it and am still interested on how the pouch came about. I didn't know that the pouch helped to keep their babies healthy along with being safe. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Kaitlyn ChappelNovember 10, 2021 at 10:11 AM

    Hi Megan! I am so glad you chose kangaroos because I think they are fascinating animals and I want to see one some day. Part of my fascination comes form the fact that they are so cute and I just want to pet them but they can be very vicious and predatory and will kick my ass if I get too close or perhaps even look at them the wrong way! Their pouch still sort of confuses me on how it works and how the baby survives in there but I am glad that you brought it up! Thank you!

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