Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The koala is a tree-dwelling marsupial native to Australia, spending nearly its entire life in eucalyptus trees on a diet that would be toxic to most other mammals.
Appearance
It has a stocky gray-brown body, a large round head, big fluffy ears, and a distinctive black nose.
Habitat & Distribution
The koala is found in forest habitats.
Diet & Behavior
Diet: Herbivore — Plant-eating animals that graze or browse on grasses, leaves, and other vegetation, from tiny insects to giant elephants.
Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day to conserve energy from their low-nutrient diet, and rely on a specialized gut microbiome to detoxify eucalyptus leaves.
Predators
- Dingo
- Large birds of prey
Prey
This species does not prey on other animals.
Interesting Facts
- 1
Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day.
- 2
They have fingerprints so similar to humans' that they can confuse crime scenes.
- 3
A koala's diet is almost entirely toxic eucalyptus leaves.
Gallery
Koala FAQs
What does a koala eat?
The koala is a herbivore. Plant-eating animals that graze or browse on grasses, leaves, and other vegetation, from tiny insects to giant elephants.
Where does the koala live?
The koala is found in forest habitats across australia.
Is the koala endangered?
The koala has a conservation status of Endangered. Species facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
How long do koalas live?
A koala's typical lifespan is 13–18 years in the wild.
How much does a koala weigh?
An adult koala typically weighs 4–15 kg.