![]() The leaves are also very low in energy comprising only 5% sugars and starches on average.Įucalypt leaves contain many toxic compounds similar to that of cyanide, which most animals cannot eat. This removes the need for a koala to climb down a tree for a drink of water, except during very hot or dry periods. They consume around 500 grams of leaves each day, (approximately the size of a small lettuce) and obtain most of their water requirements from the leaves, which can contain up to 50% water. Koalas eat a variety of eucalypt leaves and a few other related tree species, including lophostemon, melaleuca and corymbia species (such as brush box, paperbark and bloodwood trees). This is a shared trait with wombats who use this to protect their young from being covered in dirt during when digging burrows. This type of pouch protects their young from injury while moving around from tree to tree. Male koala (top) a female koala (bottom) Difference between male and female koalasĪdult male koalas are noticeably larger than adult female koalas, with a broader face and distinctly larger black nose, and can easily be distinguished by the large scent gland on their chest.Īdult female koalas have a relatively clean white chest and a backward facing pouch for their young. The gland oozes a clear, oily, strong musky smelling liquid. The male uses a scent gland on his chest to mark trees and attract females, by rubbing his chest up and down the trunk. They have an acute sense of smell which also helps them detect other koalas and their favourite food trees. They have excellent hearing which helps them detect predators and other koalas. Koalas have poor vision and rely heavily on their other senses. For the koala, this feature enables them to wedge comfortably in tree forks for long periods of time, whereas the wombat uses its hard bottom as a defence mechanism. Koalas have particularly hard bottoms, which is similar to their closest relative, the wombat. They have no fur on their nose or the palms of their paws. ![]() Their fur is usually grey-brown in colour with white fur on the chest, inner arms, ears and bottom. Koalas are well-known for their large round head, big furry ears and big black nose. In Queensland, the greatest concentration of koalas is in South East Queensland where they now compete for space with a rapidly growing human population. There are no fossil records of koalas ever living in Tasmania. Fossil records indicate that many years ago, the koala inhabited parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Local extinctions have occurred due to clearing and fragmentation of eucalypt woodlands and forests for agriculture and human settlement. Over the past 200 years, their distribution does not appear to have reduced, however, individual koala populations have declined. The distribution of koalas covers much of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and a small area in South Australia. They do, however, remain in areas where their habitat has been partially cleared and in urban areas. Koalas are found in higher densities where food trees are growing on more fertile soils and along watercourses. Koalas live over a range of open forest and woodland communities but ultimately their habitat is defined by the presence of a select group of food trees. Koalas may also live in urban areas Habitat and distribution The change in status means an increased level of protection for koalas in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. In February 2022 the status of the koala has recently been changed from vulnerable to endangered. They share a number of characteristics with wombats, who are their closest living relatives, including a backward-facing pouch. They are so different from any other marsupial, however, that they have been classified into their own family, called Phascolarctidae. Koalas are a type of mammal called marsupials, which give birth to underdeveloped young. In South East Queensland, koalas are called dumbirrbi in the Jagera language, marrambi in the Yugarabul language, borobi in the Ugambeh language, and dumbribbi in the Turrbul language. The word koala is said to come from the Dharug peoples (whose traditional lands span the area from Parramatta to the Blue Mountains of New South Wales) word meaning ‘no water’. Species: cinereus meaning ashy-grey (derived from Latin). Genus: Phascolarcto – phaskolos meaning pouched arktos meaning bear (derived from Greek).
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