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Descent with Modification:

Shown in koalas as their back paw have adapted to have two divots in order to make tree climbing easier.  This trait is likely a mutation that was favorable so it was passed down through generations

Type of Natural Selection:

Stabilizing natural selection is shown in koalas because neither extreme of traits is considered favorable and most koalas are average and survive well that way.

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Geographic Isolation: Marsupials are only found in Australia, some parts of North America and some small islands.  This Is likely because the climate in Australia was ideal for marsupials to thrive in and also due to a lack of predators.

Random Mating: It is evolutionary favorable for marsupials to mate randomly because males fight for mates through their sperm already being in the female rather than physically fighting it out as the females tend to mate with multiple males.  Male marsupials will also mate with their partners for up to 14 hours to minimize the time other males get with their partner to mate.  This has caused many male marsupials to literally "mate to death".

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Type of Speciation: Gradual

Marsupials go through gradual speciation which is made evident by the fact that most marsupials have looked the same for a very long time and are changing very gradually and consistently.

Type of Evolution: Convergent

Marsupials are products of convergent evolution.  They all derive traits from a common ancestor.  This is shown by the similarities between marsupials in Australia E.G. sugar gliders and America's placentals E.G. flying squirrels.  These animals developed their patagium from a common ancestor even though they live in different parts of the world.

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The taxonomy of the three exemplary organism shows how they are related and how closely related they are.  All of the organisms are from the same kingdom, phylum, class, and order, but they branch off into different families.  These classifications tell us that they are all animals with spinal chords and are mammals that are usually herbivores with just one well-developed pair of lower incisors. After those common classifications, the animals different.

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The fossil record shown demonstrates how for the most part, marsupial's skull/ bone sizes have decreased other than the size of the Sinodelphys zalayi's skeleton. This change is due to the need to climb trees and move faster. The thicker, denser bones made moving around much more difficult.

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Evidence of Evolution... Chromosomal Analysis

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Evidence of Evolution... Chromosomal Analysis

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There are differences in the chromosomes of marsupials such as the number of chromosomes varies, but a commonality is that the fifth and sixth chromosomes are smaller than the rest. This similarity likely comes from a common ancestor.  Koalas have 16 chromosomes while kangaroos have 12.

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Evidence of Evolution... Anatomy and Physiology

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Evidence of Evolution... Anatomy and Physiology

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The most important and prominent physiological similarity of marsupials is the female's pouch.  No other taxonomic group has the same structure. A physiological difference would be the sugar glider's patagium that are used for gliding in the air. Kangaroos and koalas both lack this characteristic.

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All marsupials have the same early developmental stages. They give birth to live young that are not fully developed. From that point, the young finish developing in the mother's pouch and leave after a period that ranges from 9 days to 18 months depending on the species. Koala embryos differ from that of a kangaroo because they spend 6-7 months developing in their mothers pouches but kangaroos spend as long as 12 months in their mothers pouches although they may begin to venture out at about 8 months old.

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https://www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/taxonomy

http://qa.answers.com/Q/How_long_does_a_baby_koala_stay_in_its_mother%27s_pouch

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/kangaroo-mob-kangaroo-fact-sheet/7444/

http://rootae.tripod.com/kangaroo_behaviorspage.htm

http://www.worldanimalfoundation.net/f/koala.pdf

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/sugar-gliders/description-and-physical-characteristics-of-sugar-gliders

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/12/1215_031215_oldestmarsupial.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/fossilmarsupials.html

https://www.livescience.com/53907-ancient-kangaroos-scampered-to-survive.html

https://www.livescience.com/25045-nimbadon-marsupials-australia.html

https://www.livescience.com/40229-marsupials-mate-to-death.html

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Kingdom:  Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Diprotodontia

Family: Petauridae

Genus: Niger

Species: Niger labor lapsus

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Kingdom:  Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Diprotodontia

Family: Macropodidae

Genus: Macropus

Species: Macropus canguru

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Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Diprotodontia

Family: Phascolarctidae

Genus: Phascolarctos

Species: Cinereus

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125 million years old

Cretaceous Period

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eomaia

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23 million years old

Late Oligocene period

http://www.newsweek.com/australia-prehistoric-marsupial-lion-wakaleo-schouteni-ambushed-prey-tree-tops-742695

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23 million years ago

Late oligocene early Miocene

https://phys.org/news/2017-10-fanged-kangaroo-extinction.html

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16 million years ago

Middle Miocene

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100715105951.htm

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30,000 years old

Pleistocene epoch

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/diprotodon-marsupial-fossil-skull-science-photo-library.html

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Location found & habitat specific information:

Found in Indonesia, Tasmania and Australia, live in rainforests, make nests in the holes of trees, have become a common pet in the United States

Physical characteristics (internal & external):

gliding membranes called patagium stretch from the wrists to the ankles, grey fur, pouch on females, scent gland on male forehead

Behavioral Characteristics:

nocturnal,  bark to communicate, travel by gliding through the air

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Location found & habitat specific information:

Australia, can survive in a range of cool and tropical temperatures, live in trees.

Physical characteristics (internal & external):

Fur acts as raincoat, 64.8-73.6cm in length, pouch on females, have fingerprints like humans, curved spine, eleven ribs, small brain

Behavioral Characteristics:

nocturnal, prefer to be alone, arboreal

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Location found & habitat specific information:

Australia, Tasmania,  Woods and bushland, as well as grassland, savannas, forests, and scrubland. Highly adaptable and can live successfully in a wide range of habitats.

Physical characteristics (internal & external):

Pouch on females, large and powerful legs and feet, large muscular tail, 3-8 feet tall, 40-200 pounds, strong molars, chambered stomach

Behavioral characteristics:

herbivores, live in groups called mobs, can be aggressive (boxing)

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Depends on kind of marsupial

Can live in trees, desserts, snow, underground, forest floors, etc.

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Breed with multiple mates

Could be herbivores, insectivores, carnivores or omnivores

Often times solitary animals

Many are nocturnal

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Have a pouch (if female) that is for allowing her young to develop after birth

Are covered in hair

Give birth to embryos

Have a good sense of smell and hearing

Are mammals

Live in either Australia or North America