Koala

The koala is a marsupial and is also known as the ‘koala bear‘ because of its appearance. It is the only living species of its family that is today listed as threatened. Male koalas can reach a body length of 85 cm (33 in) and are up to 50% larger than females. Their natural habitat is restricted to eastern and south-eastern Australia, although animals have also been introduced to some islands. 

Paws and fingerprints

Koalas spend most of their time in trees. They have strong arms and two thumbs on each hand, as well as three opposing fingers with sharp claws. The papillary ridges on their fingertips make their fingerprints remarkably similar to those of humans. As their large ears and distinctive nose suggest, koalas have excellent hearing and smell. They are nocturnal and sleep up to 20 hours a day, even more than sloths. 

Offspring and eucalyptus

Like their closest relatives, the wombats, the female's pouch is open at the back or bottom. Because koalas climb in an upright position, a sphincter muscle prevents the offspring from falling out. A female usually only gives birth to one young. When it has grown too big for the pouch, it is carried on the mother's back. Koalas feed almost exclusively on eucalyptus plants, which are poisonous to most other animals. However, only from certain varieties of the more than 600 eucalyptus species. They also take in water mainly through the leaves. In fact, the name ‘koala’ comes from an Aboriginal language and means ‘no water’.

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