The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), sometimes inaccurately called the koala bear, is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae. Its closest living relatives are the wombats. The koala is found in coastal areas of the continent's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and ...
koala, (Phascolarctos cinereus), tree-dwelling marsupial of coastal eastern and southern Australia classified in the family Phascolarctidae (suborder Vombatiformes). Due to the animal’s superficial resemblance to a small bear, the koala is sometimes referred to, albeit erroneously, as the koala bear.
Discover 10 adorable koala facts with Nat Geo Kids! Learn about where koalas live, how they develop, what they eat and see some fab photos, too!
Koalas are marsupials, related to kangaroos. Most marsupials have pouches where the tiny newborns develop. A koala mother usually gives birth to one joey at a time. A newborn koala is only the size of a jelly bean. Called a joey, the baby is blind, naked, and earless. As soon as it's born, this tiny creature makes its way from the birth canal to its mother's pouch. Using the two well-developed ...
Koala Description Koalas are thick-set animals with thick, soft, wool-like ash-grey colored coats with white underparts. Their fur protects them from both high and low temperatures and acts like a raincoat to repel moisture when it rains. The fur on a koalas bottom is densely packed to provide a ‘cushion’ for the hard branches it sits upon. Mature males are recognisable by the brown ...
Koalas may look sleepy and cuddly, but these iconic Australian animals survive on toxic leaves, can bolt at 30km/h and have a surprising knack for predicting the weather.