2. Koala
Koala is a marsupial mammal. Koala is now
the only living species of the genus koala.
At this genus belonging to two extinct
species.
3. Where do they live?
Koalas only live in Australia, particularly in
the southern and eastern mainland coast.
Koalas do not live on the island of
Tasmania and Western Australia regions.
4. What do they eat?
Koalas eat only eucalyptus leaves. Koalas feed on
different types of eucalyptus leaves. Sometimes
they also eat other kind leaves. For exlampe
acacia, tea tree or melaleuku leaves.
Koalas metabolism is very slow. Koala spend 3
hours a day eating. Eating can happen at any
time of the day, but mostly at night. Every day
koala eats a pound of eucalyptus leaves. The
leaves are chewed to fine slurry and then
swallowed.
5. How do they look?
Koalas have long, sharp claws that allow it to climb trees
and cling to branches. Males are larger than females.
Southern koalas are bigger than in the north. Southern
male can reach 14 kg, while females from the north can
weigh only 5 kg.
Koalas forefoot have 5 fingers, and 2 of them have the
thumb. That makes it easier to grab a tree branch.
Koalas and primates are the only animals, with their own
fingerprints.
Koala brain is one of the smallest of all marsupial. The
brain is like two walnut hand placed brain stem end.
They are not connected with each other or with the skull.
6. Behavior
The koala is a silent animal, but males have
a loud cry, which it uses to attract females
during the mating attention. The cry is
heard a mile away. If someone frightens
the koala, it starts screaming like child.
Koalas can be very aggressive to each
other. Like wombats and sloths, koala
moves very little. Koala 16 - 18 hours
spend whit no movement.
7. Interesting facts
• Koalas are also white.
• Koalas in captivity can reach 18 years of
age.
• Koala favorite dish is white eucalyptus,
blue eucalyptus and bog eucalyptus.
• Gestation period is 35 days.
