Marsupial Baby Names: Why They're All Called Joeys

Marsupials are unique mammals that carry their babies in pouches — and they share a unique baby name too.

What Are Marsupials?

Marsupials are mammals that give birth to tiny, underdeveloped young that crawl into a pouch to continue growing. Australia is home to most of the world's marsupials.

The Joey Name

Joey is the universal name for baby marsupials:

Kangaroo joey — born the size of a jellybean, crawls to pouch

Koala joey — rides in pouch for 6 months, then on mom's back

Wallaby joey — similar to kangaroo but smaller

Wombat joey — pouch opens backward (so dirt doesn't get in!)

Opossum joey — North America's only marsupial

Tasmanian devil joey — born the size of a rice grain!

Where Does "Joey" Come From?

The word "joey" likely comes from an Aboriginal Australian word, though the exact language is debated. It entered English in the 1830s and has been used for all baby marsupials ever since.

Why One Name for All?

Unlike placental mammals (which have diverse baby names like calf, foal, cub), marsupials share "joey" because:

They all share the same unique reproductive strategy (pouch)

The name was coined by Australian settlers who saw them as one group

Aboriginal languages often used one term for all pouched babies

Amazing Marsupial Facts

A kangaroo joey is born after just 33 days of pregnancy

Koala joeys eat their mother's special droppings ("pap") to digest eucalyptus

Wombat pouches face backward so dirt doesn't enter while digging

Opossum joeys have 13 nipples to share among up to 20 siblings!