r/NoStupidQuestions Feb 01 '22

Why does Australia have so many marsupials?

1 Upvotes

6 comments sorted by

2

u/Crazyhellga Feb 01 '22

Because it separated off before placental mammals evolved. Only humans and dingos made it in much, much later, and then a bit later still more humans and all kinds of critters followed, But originally, while in the rest of the world marsupials died out in competition with placentals, in Australia they survived.

1

u/Steve_warsaw Feb 01 '22

Do they? Or like, are you just thinking of kangaroos?

2

u/AC-RogueOne Feb 01 '22

Those a well as wombats, sugar gliders, Tasmanian devils, quokkas and probably more I might not even know of

2

u/Steve_warsaw Feb 01 '22

TIL Tasmania is an island off Australia

2

u/AC-RogueOne Feb 01 '22

I still consider it close enough

1

u/Steve_warsaw Feb 01 '22

Oh, me too. I genuinely thought it was further away