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The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a marsupial mammal and is indigenous to Australia. Their closest relative is the wombat. They live in eucalyptus trees and eat only a few types of gum leaves from which they get all nutrients and water requirements. Eucalyptus leaves are tough, toxic and low in nutrition, but the koala has developed a stomach which is capable of removing the toxins from where they are filtered out by the liver. The caecum completes the process by changing the eucalyptus leaves into digestible nutrients. The caecum is similar to the human appendix. The koala must eat over a kilogram of leaves per day to meet its energy requirements. Eucalyptus leaves contain approximately 50% water, 18% fibre, 13% tannins, 8% fat, 5% carbohydrates, 4% protein and 2% minerals. Koalas have been seen feeding in 120 kinds of eucalypt tree including Manna Gum, Swamp Gum, Blue Gum, Forest Red Gum and Grey Gum.
The Koalas have no relatives..

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11y ago
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11y ago

Despite the misnomer of "koala bear", the koala has absolutely no relation to bears. Its closest relative is the wombat.

Koalas are marsupials, a subclass of the mammal group. Marsupials give birth to immature, or not fully developed, young, who then make their way to the mother's teat which is usually located in a pouch or pouch like appendage on the mother's abdomen.

The reason why koalas and wombats are related is that they are both marsupials of the order Diprotodontia. The koala's family, Phascolarctidae, is closest to the wombat family, Vombatidae because they are both of the sub-order Vombatiformes.

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12y ago

There are about 63 species of kangaroo, grouped into various smaller families. Kangaroos come under the heading of "macropod". Members of the macropod family are characterised by their big feet ("macropod" means "great-footed"), their front pouches, and the fact that they move primarily by hopping.

There are four main species that are commonly called kangaroo. These are:

  • The Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) - This is the largest marsupial in the world and the most common in Australia.
  • The Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) - This species ranges over the fertile eastern part of the continent.
  • The Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) - This species is found in the southern part of west Australia, near the coast of South Australia and the Darling River basin.
  • The Antilopine Kangaroo (Macropus antilopinus) - This species is found in the far north of Australia. They inhabit grassy plains and woodlands.

Other species of kangaroos are smaller, and they include:

  • Wallabies, including different species of rock-wallaby, brush wallaby and swamp wallaby
  • Quokkas, once thought to be a type of wallaby, but now regarded as another separate group
  • Musky-rat kangaroo (the smallest of all kangaroos)
  • Tree kangaroos, which live in trees, although they can easily jump to the ground from 6m up and escape along the ground if threatened. There are numerous species of tree-kangaroos. They have shorter hind legs and a long, non-prehensile tail which they use as a rudder for jumping between tree branches. They are the only type also found in New Guinea.
  • Pademelons, which are the smallest of the macropod family. There are many different varities of pademelons.
  • Wallaroos and euros, which come in between wallabies and kangaroos in size. They are characterised by a more thickset body, and are darker around the snout.

Then there are the potoroids - a sub-species of the kangaroo family. Examples include:

  • Rat-kangaroos, which look like oversized rats around the face and ears. There are various species of these, such as the Musky rat-kangaroo and the Rufous rat-kangaroo. Rat kangaroos are different to the kangaroo-rats of North America, and not at all related.
  • Potoroos, which are small and quite endangered. Gilbert's Potoroo is the most threatened marsupial species in Australia.
  • Bettongs which, like the potoroo, are sometimes included in with the rat-kangaroos. They are quite small, usually weighing only a couple of kilograms when mature.
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13y ago

Koalas do not live in family groups, so there is no collective term for a family of koalas.

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11y ago

The Scientific Binomial name for a Koala is Phascolarctos cinereus. It belongs to the family Phascolarctidae.

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13y ago

The koala, which is not a bear, is of the family Phascolarctidae.

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6y ago

Koalas are from the family Phascolarctidae.

The Scientific Binomial name for a Koala is Phascolarctos cinereus.

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6y ago

The koala is in the family of marsupials native to Australia.

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10y ago

The koala is the only surviving member of its family Phascolarctidae.

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Q: What family is the koala bear in?
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Related questions

What family is the koala in?

The koala, which is not a bear, is of the family Phascolarctidae.


What is in the bear family?

The koala, which is not a bear, is of the family Phascolarctidae.


Why is it incorrect to refer to a koala as a koala bear?

It is incorrect to refer to a koala as a koala bear for the simple reason that the koala is not a member of the bear family. The koala is a marsupial, while the bear is a placental mammal. There are no native bears in Australia.


What category does a Koala bear go in?

A koala, which has no relation at all to the bear family, is a marsupial, that is, a pouched mammal.


Is there such a thing as a koala bear?

Koalas are not bears at all. They are not related to the bear family, but are marsupials. Bears are placental mammals.Koalas are only called bears because they have a vagueresemblance to a teddy bear.


What is an intro for a koala bear?

How about something like:"Koalas: they are often referred to as koala bears, whereas they are not, in fact, members of the bear family at all."


What are koala bears considered?

Koalas are certainly not considered bears. The term "koala bear" is a misnomer that is not used in Australia, the koala's native country. It is a mistake commonly made by non-Australians. A koala is not a bear. It is a marsupial. It is not even remotely related to the bear family, all of which are placental mammals.


Is a koala bear really a bear?

A koala is not a bear. A koala is a marsupial mammal indigenous to Australia, where there are no bears.


What is a koala bear?

A koala is not a bear but a marsupial.The koala's species is Phascolarctus cinereus.


Is there a king koala bear?

No. There is no king koala, and koalas are not bears. There is no such creature as a "koala bear". It is just "koala".


What are koala bear chordate?

The koala is a member of the phylum chordata.The koala is also not a bear.


Do polar bears belong to the bear family?

No. Koalas are not bears, but marsupials. It is incorrect to refer to them as "koala bears".