The koala often called a koala bear are actually marusipals not koala bears. The koalas(phascolarctos cinerus) is an arboreal(tree dwelling) herbivorous(plant eating)"marsupial" which comes from the word "pouch" most but not all female marsupials have a permernent pouch in which to raise their young
Europeans thought the koalas were bears when they came to Australia so they were often called koala bears,some early settelers even reffered to them as monkeys thus some people still call the favoured koala food trees "monkey gums". These cute cuddly marsupials are simply called "koalas"
The koala is well suited for life in the trees,the koala does not have an external tail but despite not having a tail the koala has an excellent sense of balance,with lean,muscular body,and comparatively long strong limbs,it can support its weight when climbing. Their furs act as a thick wooly raincoat that repels moisture and also protects them from extremes of both high and low temperatures.
Koalas vary in length and weight,koalas in the south of Australia are considerably larger and have thicker,often browner fur than those in the north. Southern male koalas weighs 9.5-14kg(average 12kg) and have a length of 75-82cm(average 78.2cm)while northern male koalas weigh 4.2-9.1kg(average 6.5kg) and have a length of 67.4-73.6cm(average 70.5cm).
The southern female koala weighs 7-11 kg(average 8.5) and has a length of 64.8-72.3cm(average 71.6cm)while the northern female koala weighs 4.1-7.3kg(average 5.1kg) and has a length of 64.8-72.3cm(average 68.7cm).
Although they have large heads their brain is smaller in comparison to other closely related marsupials this could be due to their low energy diet as it is said that a smaller brain uses less energy
The koala unusually large leathery nose is one of its most noticeable features. They rely on their high level of smell to differenciate level of toxins in eucalyptus leaves,to detect level of toxicity in the leaves at any particular time,to smell the scent warnings put on trees by other koalas. Their large ears provide a keen sense of hearing which is necessary for their socialisation with other koalas as they can live in population where each koala live large distances apart. Their eyes are relatively small in relation to their other sensory features such as their nose and ears,their eyesight is not very highly developed.
Female koalas have pouches though described as a backward opening pouch like wombats as opposed to an upward opening pouch like kangaroos. Their body temperature is consistently lower than most mammals at 36.6 degree celcius and they have a low metabolic rate. Koalas are the only other animals that have individual fingerprints like humans. It was noted that koalas have a different finger print from each other.
It is a misconception that koalas dont have a ribcage and that is why they dont like to be picked up,but they do have a ribcage that protects their internal organs. A koala should not be picked up under its arms like a toddler because it is accustomed to gripping unto branches with its front paws and it will feel uncomfortable and vulnerable.
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