What is the drop bear's scientific name?

Answer 1

Dropbears are completely mythical creatures, and as such, do not have a scientific name.

They began to appear on the Australian scene, particularly in camping and scouting groups, in the 1970s, and like many Australian mythical creatures such as bunyips, gained in popularity as stories were told about them around campfires in the night.

Dropbears are said to be carnivorous koala-like creatures which drop down from trees on unsuspecting hikers and campers. They particularly like gullible people who are taken in by the stories about them...

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'Drop Bear' is a humorous and mythical creature based on the Australian koala, which is a marsupial and not a bear. It is said the drop bear was invented, along with other mythical and deadly Australian creatures, and ever-more bizarre methods of protecting oneself from them, to scare US troops on R & R in Australia in the nineteen-seventies; many suspect the legend goes back futher than that.

The koala has extremely strong, sharp claws which help it climb very fast up and within trees to avoid predators, and this attribute has helped the legend along. The premise is that the drop bear lurks in packs or alone high in trees, unseen until it spies a passing victim. Then it drops onto its victim's head and hangs on with those incredible claws while doing unspeakable things to the victim.

One method of protection from drop bears, we are told, is to smear Vegemite all over our hair.

The koala, like the male Australian possum, makes a frightful noise in the night, and this has helped the drop bear legend considerably.

Don't ask about the hoop snakes.

You can hear these creatures discussed in pubs throughout Australia, where locals invent ever-more terrifying tales and ever-more awful protective measures for the benefit of overseas tourists. These tourists frequently know the legends off by heart after the second pub, and kindly oblige by looking frightened for the benefit of the locals.

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Answer 2

The drop bear is a fictional creature commonly referenced in Australian folklore as a koala subspecies. Its scientific name is "Thylarctos plummetus," which is not a valid taxonomic classification in the scientific community.