Pouch-squatters

The Pouch-squatters (Thylacosquatter sp) are a genus of placental mice native to Australia. They are named because they live their entire lives within the pouch of and on Booral’s and similar large herbivorous marsupials. Several females sleep and raise their young within the safety and comfort of the pouch of a single Booral, while males wander between Booral’s in search of females to mate with. Both genders feed on the Booral’s parasites and on the invertebrates disturbed by the Booral’s browsing. Their claws are curved downwards to aid in gripping and the underside of the tip of their tail is naked, broad and leathery, allowing it to be used for support. They range between 7 and 10cm long.