Walpurti
The walpurti (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is a marsupial found in Western Australia. The walpurti is an emblem of Western Australia and protected by conservation programs.
Walpurtis were formerly found across southern Australia from Western Australia across as far as northwestern New South Wales.
Today, walpurtis are found only in areas of eucalypt forest, but they were once more widespread in other types of semi-arid woodland, Spinifex grassland, and even in terrain dominated by sand dunes.
Walpurtis breed in February and March, normally producing one litter a year. Gestation lasts 15 days, and results in the birth of four young. Unusually among marsupials, female walpurtis have no pouch, although the four teats are protected by a patch of crimped, golden hair and by the swelling of the surrounding abdomen and thighs during lactation. The young are 2 centimetres long at birth, and crawl to the teats, and remain attached until late July or early August, by which time they have grown to 7.5 centimetres. They first develop fur at 3 centimetres, and the adult coat pattern begins to appear once they reach 5.5 centimetres. After weaning, the young are initially left in a nest, or carried about on the mother's back, and they are fully independent by November.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurti – 07.12.2011