Picky eaters. Koalas are one of the cutest and most famous animals originating from Australia. The Koala is a herbivorous animal that only feeds on the leaves of the eucalyptus (gum) tree in order to survive. Their scientific name, Phascolarctos cinereus, is derived from several Greek words meaning pouch bear (phaskolos arktos) and having an ashen appearance (cinereus). Take a closer look at these encyclopedia books including information about animal habitats, behavior, and scientific classification. Koalas are a type of mammal called marsupials, which give birth to underdeveloped young. But their […] Read More, David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife, Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals, David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia, Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species, David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals, Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals, David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals, About Koalas, Available here: https://www.savethekoala.com/koalas.html, Koala Information, Available here: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/16892/0. Irvine, Georgeanne. Click through all of our Koala images in the gallery. ZooLife, Summer 1990, pp. Koalo, or New Holland Sloth, engraving, G. Perry, Arcania, London, 10 May 1810. A koala spends over 14 hours a day sleeping. To that end, here’s our list of the 10 ugliest animals on Earth. Australia, A Natural History. They are however, surprisingly resilient and adaptable animals that are known to inhabit various types of forest from the tall eucalyptus forests, to coastal regions and even low-lying woodlands further inland. In order to help the process Koalas are also known to occasionally eat soil, bark and gravel to aid the digestion of such a fibrous plant. The koala is a marsupial mammal. The young Koala then clings onto its mother’s back where it tends to remain for another few months or until the next season’s young has developed and is ready to leave the pouch. Koala, tree-dwelling marsupial of coastal eastern Australia. They are now symbols for international conservation and a reminder that we must continually work to preserve unique environments. The Koala would have once been abundant throughout the forests of south-eastern Australia but intense hunting of them for their soft fur in the early 20th Century led to drastic population declines and even local extinction in some areas. Melbourne is a rather long and boring name for a Koala. During the breeding season, males can be heard producing loud booming calls through the forest which are to both attract a female mate but also to deter any potential rivals. Where possible though, infected Koalas (and particularly those that have been attacked by domestic dogs) are given veterinary first aid to try and help them in the future and prevent a large outbreak spreading through entire populations. The Koala is a Marsupial; the female has a pouch. Go behind-the-scenes to see how our trainers care for and interact with these amazing animals, and get up close with some finned, flippered, or feathered friends. Presently, koalas suffer from habitat depletion that is the result of human development. 58-67. Common Name: (Dixon et al. Today, the Koala is listed by the IUCN as an animal that is of Least Concern from becoming extinct in its natural environment in the near future. Learn more about the Seasonal Camp Counselor program at SeaWorld. Other behaviours and adaptations Most of the Koala's time is spent in eucalypt trees sleeping and feeding, although occasionally it travels along the ground like its closest relatives, the wombats. Hold on tight. The scientific name of the koala, “Phascolarctos cinereus” means “ash coloured bear.” It is estimated that in 1998 alone $1 billion was generated through koala related items and tourism in Australia. Wild koalas live in eastern and southeastern Australia. Since then, the hunting of Koalas has been banned and management of populations has seen them increase once again. The Koala is a unique animal that famously feeds only the leaves of the eucalyptus trees which they inhabit but this diet is very hard to digest and lacks many of the vital nutrients that are key to the survival of a number of animal species. They share a number of characteristics with wombats, who are their closest living relatives, including a backward-facing pouch. The koala's scientific name is Phasclarctos Cinereus. Spends up to 80% of the time sleeping or resting! The koala is an iconic Australian animal. 2006) Scientific Name: Phascolarctos. Despite the fact that they are common in much of their natural range today, land clearance has not only meant a loss of their habitats but also separates populations from one another making them more and more isolated. Koalas live in eucalyptus, inland, and coastal forests. Their hands have a large gap between the first and second fingers and their big toe is set at a wide angle to the foot. Litchfield, Linda. The biggest threats to the Koala are habitat loss and disease. Conservationists often teach people about the value of all creatures by using koalas as impressive examples of what we can do to bring animals back from the brink. Koalas are marsupials that are native to the Australian continent. The Koala is a solitary and nocturnal animal that spends most of the daytime hours sleeping in the fork of a eucalyptus tree. Koalas belong to the genus Phascolarctos. Now there are only 2,000 to 8,000 koalas in the wild! You could also think of the name as a play on the word cool. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats, which are members of the family Vombatidae. What is it? phaskolos from Greek for 'leather bag or pouch' ... Koala-like marsuials and wombat-like marsupials diverged about 40 … Taken with tigers? This is actually one of the biggest threats to Koalas in certain areas as large numbers of individuals have been affected particularly by the Chlamydia bacterium, which can actually be treated with antibiotics. It is about 60 to 85 cm (24 to 33 inches) long and weighs up to 14 kg (31 pounds) in the southern part of its range but only about half that in the northern part. KOALA Scientific Name: Phasclarctos Cinereus. [5] However, although they are now considered to be one of Australia’s most iconic mammal species when European settlers first arrived things were very different, with millions of Koalas known to have been killed every year for their pelts (fur). Koalas are Herbivores, meaning they eat plants. Despite being relatively small, the lack of native mammalian predators in Australia means that adult Koalas have very few natural predators with the exception of large Birds of Prey. London: Angus and Robertson Pub., 1983. The Koala is a small to medium sized mammal that is found inhabiting a variety of different types of forest in south-eastern Australia. Koala. It has numerous traits that set it apart from all other species of wildlife. Phacolarctos comes from 2 Greek words: phaskolos meaning pouch, and arktos meaning bear. Despite its appearance and the fact that it is also known as the Koala Bear, Koalas are in fact marsupials but are so distinctive amongst this specially adapted family of mammals that they are classified in a scientific group of their own. What’s attractive in one culture could be gross in another. "Can Koalas Bear the 20th Century?" It is almost always the male who makes the famous sad sound, which is a wooing call, The bluefin is one of the largest fish in the world, Beauty is subjective. 2011). Koalas fur is different in different parts of Australia. Before European colonization in Australia, koalas were an important food source for Aboriginal people and dingo (wild dogs). From fun and affordable field trips for students to amazing summer adventures, our camps combine education and entertainment in a way that connects people to the sea and sea life like nowhere else. Here it attaches itself to one of the two teats and remains in the safety of the pouch until it is weaned at between 6 and 7 months old after having grown dramatically. Mel: Sometimes to get a good Australian name for a koala, you have to return to the roots. How to pronounce koala. Although the home ranges of males and females do overlap, males will not tolerate rival males intruding on their territory and fight viciously by scratching and biting. The scientific name of the koala’s genus, Phascolarctos, is derived from Greek phaskolos “pouch” and arktos “bear”. They are however, becoming more and more remote and isolated from one another which could cause problems in the future and are severely affected by introduced diseases in certain areas. Cinereus means ash-coloured (grey). Did you know? The Koala is a small to medium sized mammal that is found inhabiting a variety of different types of forest in south-eastern Australia. This gives the koala a vice-like grip on branches. When the industry peaked in 1924 two million pelts were traded and eventually led to public outcry over the situation. Wildlife Conservation, July - August 1991, pp. Due to the fact that Koalas spend almost all of their lives in the trees, they have evolved a number of adaptations to help them with their arboreal lifestyle including having short, powerful limbs that are tipped with sharp claws. It resembles a small bear, and it is sometimes called, albeit erroneously, the koala bear. © 2021 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.