Phascolarctos cinereus
Description
The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) was once considered to be locally extinct in Toohey Forest, and no koalas were sighted in the area between the 1970's to 1990's. Their return to the forest is a bit of a mystery but this ash-grey furry marsupial is a welcome and warming sight to anyone who has the fortune to see one.
This tree dwelling marsupial can be found across the east coast and south along the coast into South Australia in sclerophyll forests. Although there are approximately 600 species of Eucalypts in Australia only 40-50 of them are a suitable food source for koalas. Koalas will eat 200-500g of leaves per day. Eucalypt leaves are very low in energy so koalas have adapted a number of strategies to overcome this.
Breeding occurs between September to March and joeys can stay with the mother for over a year before they can live independently.
Adaptations
- Sleep up to 18 hours a day to conserve energy.
- Have a very slow digestive system and metabolic rate to allow food to stay in gut longer to maximise the amount of energy they can get from the leaves
- Special bacteria in digestive system help digest and detoxify Eucalypt leaves
- Strong claws for climbing
Feeding relationships
- What I eat: 40-50 species of Eucalypt trees
- What eats me: Dingoes and dogs
Interesting facts
The word “koala” is an aboriginal word that means “no drink”. Koalas obtain the majority (90%) of their water needs directly from the Eucalyptus leaves that they eat.