Koalas are the cuddly icons of the Australian bush. However, these sleepy creatures are actually tough survivalists with bizarre biological adaptations. For instance, they possess fingerprints so similar to humans that they once confused crime scene investigators. Furthermore, they survive on a diet of toxic leaves that would kill almost any other animal. Consequently, understanding their biology reveals a truly unique mammal. Therefore, grab a branch and hang on for these fascinating koala secrets.
Koalas
Koalas are not bears at all. Although people frequently call them “koala bears,” they are actually marsupials who raise their young in pouches.
They have fingerprints that look exactly like human ones. Uniquely, the ridges on their fingers are so distinct that even microscope analysis struggles to tell them apart from human prints.
They sleep for up to twenty hours a day. Because their diet provides very little energy, they must stay motionless to conserve every calorie they can.
Koalas eat toxic eucalyptus leaves exclusively. Amazingly, their bodies produce special enzymes that neutralize the deadly poisons found in the foliage.
Their name likely means “no drink.” In the Dharug language of Indigenous Australians, the word implies that they rarely drink water because they get moisture from leaves.
Baby koalas eat their mother’s waste. Specifically, joeys consume a substance called “pap,” which is a special type of feces that provides the gut bacteria needed to digest leaves.
They possess two thumbs on each front paw. Consequently, this double-thumb arrangement allows them to grip branches securely while they sleep high in the trees.
Their pouches open backward. Unlike kangaroos, the koala pouch opens toward the hind legs so dirt does not enter when the mother digs or climbs.
Male koalas make a terrifying sound. Surprisingly, they produce a deep, guttural bellow that sounds more like a pig or a motorcycle than a cute animal.
They have one of the smallest brain-to-body ratios. Furthermore, their brains are smooth, which indicates they lack the higher-level recognition skills of other mammals.
Koalas hug trees to cool down. During heatwaves, they press their bodies against the cooler tree trunks to lower their body temperature without panting.
A newborn joey is the size of a jellybean. When it enters the world, the baby is blind, hairless, and only about two centimeters long.
Chlamydia causes severe problems for them. Unfortunately, this bacterial infection ravages wild populations, causing blindness and infertility in many animals.
They have a special organ for digestion. The caecum in their gut is incredibly long, which allows them to ferment and break down the tough fibers of gum leaves.
Finally, they once had giant ancestors. Fossils show that a mega-koala weighing over nearly thirty pounds once roamed the Australian rainforests.
