What type of bear is a koala bear?

Answer 1

First and foremost, koalas are not bears.

The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a marsupial mammal and is indigenous to Australia. Its closest relative is the wombat.

Koalas are indigenous to Australia and live in tropical to temperate eucalypt forest and woodlands. They can be found along the eastern and south-eastern coastal regions.

Koalas 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 digestive system which is capable of removing the toxins and extracting the maximum nutrition.

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.

Koalas are marsupials, that is, pouched mammals, meaning that the young are born extremely undeveloped, and most of their development occurs in the mother's pouch.

Koalas have a woolly light to dark grey fur with brown and white patches and a cream belly. They have a broad head with small eyes, large furry ears and a distinctive large black nose. Females have two teats and a rear opening pouch. Mature males have a brown stain on their chest, the result of a gland which produces an orange coloured discharge. This is used to mark the trees the male climbs by rubbing this gland against the base of the tree and the trunk. This is believed to be territorial behaviour, and to attract females ready for mating.

Answer 2

A koala isn't a bear at all, actually. It is a marsupial, whereas a bear is a placental mammal. "Koala bear" is just a nickname given to the marsupial by non-Australians.