KOALA
KOALA
Phascolarctos cinereus
Size/weight/height
Weight: 8.8-33 lbs. Body: 24-34 "
Animals in southern portion of range tend to be larger.
Characteristics
Dense woolly fur-- gray to brown on back , white on underside. Rump is often dappled . Ears are fringed in white. Compact body with large head and nose, and big hairy ears. Both feet have 5 digits - forefoot 1st & 2nd digits oppose 3rd-5th - hind foot - 2nd & 3rd digits partially fused, 1st digit opposes other 4 . Palms and soles are granular - help to grip. First upper and lower incisor teeth are large; canines are small; molars are blunt and tubular. Males have a scent gland on the chest.
Behavior
Nocturnal. Arboreal , but occasionally come to the ground. Territorial with slight overlapping ranges. Males utter a loud call during breeding season and makes a loud call when alarmed.
Reproduction/life span
Females have 2 mammae in their marsupium (pouch) . Breeding season spring -summer - varies w/ latitude . Females breed once a year. Gestation is 35 days; usually single birth - twins rare . Weight at birth .36 g (.01 oz). Young stay in pouch ~7mo. and are weaned at 6-12 months . Prior to weaning, young are fed "pap" (material from the mother's digestive tract. Females are sexually mature at 2 yrs. but may wait to breed. Life span: wild 10+ years. Captive record 17 years.
Diet
Herbivore. Wild: leaves - primarily Eucalyptus but may include Acacia, Melaleuca and Allocasuaria. May eat dirt for supplemental minerals. Zoo: Eucalyptus (sent from CA) .
Habitat/range
Eucalyptus forests of Australia - SE Queensland to E New South Wales and Victoria to SE South Australia.
Status
Not listed as an endangered species. Numbers are being reduced because of habitat loss. Koalas were once hunted for their fur.
OREGON ZOO PORTLAND, OREGON