marsupium

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | 590 words | Copyright

marsupium A pouch (from the Greek marsupion, ‘pouch’) on the surface of the body of an adult animal in which its young are held securely. Marsupia occur in some invertebrates (e.g. some Isopoda), some Anura, but most notably in the Marsupialia, which derive their name from the possession of marsupia, although not all species have them. In those female marsupials that do, and also in echidnas (see TACHYGLOSSIDAE), the marsupium is a fold of skin, supported by epipubic bones, containing the mammary glands into which the eggs of echidnas and young of marsupials are placed.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

MICHAEL ALLABY. "marsupium." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "marsupium." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-marsupium.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "marsupium." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-marsupium.html

Learn more about citation styles