Koala
⚡ Key Facts & Quick Answers (AEO Summary)
- Taxonomic Class: Mammals
- Dietary Niche: Herbivore (Eucalyptus)
- Max Speed: 10 km/h (6 mph)
- Adult Weight: 4 - 15 kg (9 - 33 lbs)
- Typical Lifespan: 13 - 18 years
- Primary Habitat: Eucalyptus woodlands
- Native Region: Eastern and southeastern Australia
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
📊 Physical & Biological Metrics
🧬 Scientific Taxonomy & Biological Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Diprotodontia |
| Family | Phascolarctidae |
| Genus | Phascolarctos |
| Species Binomial | Phascolarctos cinereus |
📖 1. Species Overview
The koala is an iconic Australian marsupial closely associated with eucalyptus forests. Often mistakenly called 'koala bears', they are actually marsupials that raise their young in pouches. They have adapted to feed exclusively on toxic eucalyptus leaves, sleeping up to 20 hours a day.
🦿 2. Physical Appearance, Anatomy & Adaptations
Koalas have stout bodies with thick, ash-gray fur, large round ears, and a prominent black leathery nose. They lack a tail. Their paws have rough pads and long, sharp claws adapted for climbing trees. They weigh 4 to 15 kg, with northern koalas being smaller than southern ones.
🗺️ 3. Habitat, Geographic Distribution & Territorial Range
They inhabit eucalyptus woodlands in eastern and southeastern Australia. Koalas are solitary and sedentary, spending almost their entire lives in the branches of eucalyptus trees. They are nocturnal and sleep up to 18 to 20 hours a day to conserve energy, as their diet has low calorie content.
🥩 4. Diet, Feeding Strategy & Hunting Tactics
Koalas are strict herbivores that feed exclusively on eucalyptus leaves. These leaves are tough, toxic, and low in nutrients, but koalas have a specialized digestive system with a long cecum that breaks down the toxins. They get most of their hydration from the leaves, rarely drinking water.
🐣 5. Reproduction, Lifecycle & Social Hierarchy
Breeding occurs between October and April. After a gestation of 35 days, the female gives birth to a single, jellybean-sized joey. The joey crawls into the mother's backward-facing pouch, attaching to a teat. It stays in the pouch for 6 months, then rides on its mother's back. Koalas live 13 to 18 years.
🛡️ 6. Conservation Status, Population Threats & Protection
Koalas are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. They face threats from habitat fragmentation due to land clearing for housing, bushfires, chlamydia infections, and domestic dog attacks. Conservation efforts focus on protecting eucalyptus forest habitats and wildlife rehabilitation.
💡 Fascinating Facts & Trivia
- Koalas have unique fingerprints that are virtually identical to human fingerprints, even under a microscope.
- The word 'koala' comes from an Aboriginal word meaning 'no drink', reflecting their water-conserving diet.
- They sleep up to 20 hours a day to digest the toxic, low-energy eucalyptus leaves.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Direct authoritative answers regarding the biology, feeding habits, and habitat of the Koala.
The Koala is scientifically classified as Phascolarctos cinereus. It belongs to the genus Phascolarctos within the family Phascolarctidae, class Mammalia, and phylum Chordata.
In the wild, Koalas inhabit Eucalyptus woodlands. Their native geographic range primarily spans Eastern and southeastern Australia.
The Koala is classified as a Herbivore. It feeds primarily on specialized nutrients suited to its ecological niche in Eucalyptus woodlands.
A Koala can achieve top speeds of 10 km/h (6 mph) and weighs approximately 4 - 15 kg (9 - 33 lbs). Its expected natural lifespan is 13 - 18 years.
The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is currently designated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cite this Article
FaunaWiki Zoological Database (2026). "Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Species Profile."
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