About this document
Understanding Marsupials vs. Placentals by Jing Ning is a document available to read on EtoBox.
Marsupials, such as the opossum, have a unique reproductive system and are considered primitive compared to placental mammals due to their ancient origins and skeletal similarities to reptiles. They have largely declined in diversity outside of Australia and South America, where they have diversified due to a lack of competition from placentals. The Virginia opossum, often mischaracterized as a living fossil, has actually evolved more recently and expanded its range in North America due to ecological change
- Author
- Jing Ning
- Language
- EN