Joey

 Why are baby kangaroos called joeys?

I can’t substantiate the claim, but one story goes that as female kangaroos are referred to as “Does”, in typical bush wit the males were known as “Joes”. Thus the progeny from mating promiscuously were known as “little Joes” thus “Joeys”.

Another version relates that as a Doe more than likely will copulate with several bucks, and can carry the offspring of multiple bucks simultaneously, there is no telling which buck was the sire of a baby ‘roo, it could be any “Joe”. Thus the progeny from mating where known as “little Joes” thus “Joeys”.

See what happens in a kangaroos pouch here 

Fascinating birth process of kangaroos 

You may know that kangaroos (and wallabys [animals that look just like Kangaroos]) usually carry their babies in their pouches.

But what you may not know is that the pouch is, in a sense, a second womb for nurturing their babies. 

Unlike humans and other mammals that carry their babies inside their body for several months, Kangaroos and wallabys only carry their babies for 28 days. 

But that's not the end. 

At birth, the baby (called a joey) is the size of a bean, completely undeveloped and can hardly survive out in the open. The undeveloped joey climbs into its mother's pouch and the next stage of "pregnancy" begins. 

In its mother's pouch, the fetus-like joey finds one of its mother's nipples and positions its mouth directly under it. 

The joey doesn't yet have the power to suck, so it only sets its mouth to the nipple and the nipple swells in the baby's mouth. Milk begins to trickle down in a balanced quantity into the baby's mouth. 

This process continues for 8 months. At 8-month old, the joey now looks like a kangaroo and is on its way to becoming an adult that may grow to be 3-8 feet long. 

Random Images:

Originates in the aborigine language and joey means 'small animal'. Joey is the collective norm for any small animals