How Did North America End Up With a Marsupial?

How Did North America End Up With a Marsupial?

Assessment

Interactive Video

Science, History

11th Grade - University

Hard

Created by

Quizizz Content

FREE Resource

Marsupials, primarily found in Australia, have a rich history in the Americas. Fossil records show their origins in Asia, with significant findings in North America. Marsupials thrived in North America before going extinct, while South American marsupials diversified. The Virginia Opossum is the only marsupial north of Mexico today. Marsupials reached Australia when it was connected to South America and Antarctica. The decline of North American marsupials is debated, with theories suggesting competition with placental mammals. The opossum helps trace marsupial history.

Read more

5 questions

Show all answers

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Where was the oldest known ancestor of marsupials discovered?

Australia

China

North America

South America

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which marsupial is currently found north of Mexico?

Kangaroo

Koala

Virginia Opossum

Southern Opossum

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

How did marsupials spread to North America 3 million years ago?

By swimming across the ocean

Through the Bering Land Bridge

Through human introduction

Via the Isthmus of Panama

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is one hypothesis for the decline of marsupials in North America?

Climate change

Competition with placental mammals

Predation by dinosaurs

Lack of food resources

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What landmass connection allowed marsupials to reach Australia?

Isthmus of Panama

Land bridge between Africa and Australia

Bering Land Bridge

Connection between South America, Australia, and Antarctica