Where's the Joey

Where's the Joey

What's a Joey? A joey is a baby marsupial (mar-SOO-pee-ul). A marsupial is an unusual type of animal. Its babies are carried in a pouch, or pocket, on the mother's belly. As it grows, the little joey stays hidden inside the pouch.

Safe inside, the tiny joey drinks milk and grows while it is carried around. Even after it can walk, the joey may still ride in mom's pouch.

There are over three hundred types of marsupials. Most of them live in Australia (aw-STRAYL-yuh) and eat plants. Let's look at a few kinds of marsupials and their joeys.

A Jumping Joey This joey stays in its mother's pouch for eight months while it grows very tall. Its feet and tail grow very long, too. Can you guess what it is?

It's a red kangaroo! A red kangaroo is the largest marsupial. It can stand over six feet tall and weigh 200 lbs (91kg). It can jump 30 feet (9 m) with each leap!