The scientific name of a koala bear is Phascolarctos cinereus. A koala bear is a mammal and it is also a herbivore. In the wild, a koala bear can live up to 20 years in age. Size: 23.5 to 33.5 in (60 to 85 cm). Weight: 20 lbs ( 9 kg). Size relative to a 6ft (2-m) man. Koalas live in the eastern Australia, where the eucalyptus trees they love are most plentiful. In fact, they rarely leave these trees, and their sharp claws and opposable digits easily keep them aloft. During the day, they doze, tucked into forks or nooks in their trees, sleeping for up to 18 hours.
These plump, fuzzy mammals were widely hunted during the 1920s and 1930s, and their populations plunged. Helped by reintroduction, they have reappeared over much of their former …show more content…
Habitat: highest branches of eucalyptus trees, known as the gum tree.
In Aborigine language, the word “koala” means “no water”.
Koalas are nocturnal marsupials famous for spending most of their lives asleep in trees. During the day they doze, tucked into forks or nooks in the trees, sleeping for up to 18 hours.
This sedentary lifestyle can be attributed to the fact they have unusually small brains and survive on a diet of nutrient-poor leaves.
When not asleep a koala feeds on eucalyptus leaves, especially at night. Koalas do not drink much water and they get most of their moisture from these leaves. In Aborigine language, the word ‘koala’ means ‘no water’. Koalas can become dehydrated in very high temperatures though.
Each animal eats a tremendous amount for its size—about one kilogram of leaves a day. Koalas even store snacks of leaves in pouches in their cheeks.
Out of over a hundred species of eucalyptus trees that grow in Australia, the koala feeds only on twelve, and will only eat leaves at a particular stage of growth.
Koalas can easily exhaust its’ own supply. Conservationists have to move groups of koalas to areas where food is …show more content…
Teeth
Koalas have powerful jaws equipped with 30 teeth for chewing. Their teeth are well adapted to deal with their diet of tough leaves. Their scissor – sharp front teeth help them shred the tough eucalyptus leaves. Flat back teeth enable them to grind and mash their meal before swallowing it.
On the move
Koalas are good climbers, but they move awkwardly on the ground. They can run quickly if they have to, but they usually walk at a slow pace. Koalas are also able to swim.
Climbing
Climbing is easy for koalas. First they dig their front claws into the bark of the eucalyptus tree for a strong hold. Then they push themselves upward with their back paws, and grab the tree again with their front claws. The pads on the bottom of their front and back paws prevent them from slipping and falling. Sharp claws help koalas hold onto a branch, even a very shinny one. It is very important for koalas to keep a tight grip; because koalas climb very high into these trees, often 150 feet!
The reason they climb so high is to have plenty of fresh eucalyptus leaves to eat and also to be safe.
The Perfect paws
Koalas have four things that help them climb trees – “their
These plump, fuzzy mammals were widely hunted during the 1920s and 1930s, and their populations plunged. Helped by reintroduction, they have reappeared over much of their former …show more content…
Habitat: highest branches of eucalyptus trees, known as the gum tree.
In Aborigine language, the word “koala” means “no water”.
Koalas are nocturnal marsupials famous for spending most of their lives asleep in trees. During the day they doze, tucked into forks or nooks in the trees, sleeping for up to 18 hours.
This sedentary lifestyle can be attributed to the fact they have unusually small brains and survive on a diet of nutrient-poor leaves.
When not asleep a koala feeds on eucalyptus leaves, especially at night. Koalas do not drink much water and they get most of their moisture from these leaves. In Aborigine language, the word ‘koala’ means ‘no water’. Koalas can become dehydrated in very high temperatures though.
Each animal eats a tremendous amount for its size—about one kilogram of leaves a day. Koalas even store snacks of leaves in pouches in their cheeks.
Out of over a hundred species of eucalyptus trees that grow in Australia, the koala feeds only on twelve, and will only eat leaves at a particular stage of growth.
Koalas can easily exhaust its’ own supply. Conservationists have to move groups of koalas to areas where food is …show more content…
Teeth
Koalas have powerful jaws equipped with 30 teeth for chewing. Their teeth are well adapted to deal with their diet of tough leaves. Their scissor – sharp front teeth help them shred the tough eucalyptus leaves. Flat back teeth enable them to grind and mash their meal before swallowing it.
On the move
Koalas are good climbers, but they move awkwardly on the ground. They can run quickly if they have to, but they usually walk at a slow pace. Koalas are also able to swim.
Climbing
Climbing is easy for koalas. First they dig their front claws into the bark of the eucalyptus tree for a strong hold. Then they push themselves upward with their back paws, and grab the tree again with their front claws. The pads on the bottom of their front and back paws prevent them from slipping and falling. Sharp claws help koalas hold onto a branch, even a very shinny one. It is very important for koalas to keep a tight grip; because koalas climb very high into these trees, often 150 feet!
The reason they climb so high is to have plenty of fresh eucalyptus leaves to eat and also to be safe.
The Perfect paws
Koalas have four things that help them climb trees – “their