North America’s only marsupial is which animal?

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Study for the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with explanations. Get ready for your certification!

Multiple Choice

North America’s only marsupial is which animal?

Explanation:
The essential idea is identifying what defines a marsupial: birth to very underdeveloped young that finish growing in a pouch. The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial native to North America, so after a short gestation the tiny joeys crawl into the mother's pouch and complete their development there. The other animals listed—squirrels, raccoons, and skunks—are placental mammals; their young develop internally with a placenta and are not carried in a pouch. So the opossum is the correct choice.

The essential idea is identifying what defines a marsupial: birth to very underdeveloped young that finish growing in a pouch. The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial native to North America, so after a short gestation the tiny joeys crawl into the mother's pouch and complete their development there. The other animals listed—squirrels, raccoons, and skunks—are placental mammals; their young develop internally with a placenta and are not carried in a pouch. So the opossum is the correct choice.

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