Koala Bear by Jessica

Koala Bear

aersonjessica — 2014-05-14 19:23:35 UTC

The koalas scientific name is Phascolarctos cinereus from phaskolos meaning 'pouch' and 'arktos' meaning bear. They first evolved when the Australia content began to drift northward. Fossils have been found dating back to 25 million years ago.

Fun Facts

aersonjessica — 2014-05-15 13:53:21 UTC

-A New born koala is less than one inch long

-Koalas are marsupials not bears because they carry their young in pouches

-They spend almost 20 hours a day sleeping

-Koala Bears are nocturnal

-Males do not like the company of others

-Their thick tails provide cushion for when they sit in the trees most of the day

-Koalas eat a little dirt now and then to help them digest their eucalyptus leaves

-Their babies are born prematurely

Habitat/Environment

aersonjessica — 2014-05-16 19:06:46 UTC

Koalas like to live in 'bush lands' or scrubland and eucalyptus forest trees. They can be found in eucalyptus forests, low eucalypt woodlands, and on coastal and island woodlands on the Eastern and South-Eastern coastline of Australia. They live in a subtropical climate. Since they only live in trees, Koalas have very sharp claws on their front and hind legs. They have to opposable thumbs, this adaption allows the Koalas to grip branches as they move from tree to tree. They have a wooly coat to protect them from hot and cold conditions and their fur is thicker on their bottom for sitting.

How It Benefits The Community

aersonjessica — 2014-05-16 19:34:55 UTC

People have a close relationships with koala bears. Koalas benefit Australian economy creating 9,000 jobs and make between $1.1 billion and $2.5 billion a year just in tourism in Australia. Koala bears are near extinction though and soon these jobs may not be available

Difference Between Northwestern Ohio/Southeastern Michigan and Australia

aersonjessica — 2014-05-16 22:05:16 UTC

In Ohio and Michigan there are no eucalyptus trees for a koala bear to live in. Australia is a subtropical climate compared to that of Ohio and Michigan being a temperate climate. In Australia the only predator of Koalas are dogs and often times the common car. In the US Koalas would have wolves, dogs, cars, foxes, all different types of things that could easily kill a common Koala Bear.

Activities and Behaviors

aersonjessica — 2014-05-18 20:27:20 UTC

Koalas are herbivores and only eat eucalyptus leaves and a few types of gum leaves, this is a very unique behavior since the eucalyptus is poisonous to every animal except for the koala. These types of leaves are very low in nutrients so Koalas are very slow moving and must eat up to two pounds a day to meet its energy requirements. They can sleep 18-20 hours a day. When they go to eat they can climb 150 feet to the top of a eucalyptus tree and jump from one tree to another. When it is warm out side koalas move from branch to branch to find a cool breeze. In cool weather they sleep in a curled up ball to keep their body warm. Koalas do not like to live in groups and prefer to live alone.

Adaptions Koalas Would Need For The US

aersonjessica — 2014-05-18 23:27:29 UTC

Eucalyptus trees cannot grow in the northeastern part of the US. Koalas would need to adapt to climb and eat leaves of the 100 different types of trees in Michigan and Ohio. Since the climate is so different compared to Australia, Koalas would need to be able to grow more fur in the winter and be able to shed some of that fur for in the summers. The predators of the Koalas would be very different. Sine they would be eating different things with more nutrients they would be able to have more energy and run from them. Also they would have to adapt to the different colors of trees instead of the light shade of grey like the eucalyptus tree.