![]() ![]() Koalas also may swallow some soil to obtain minerals and nutrients. Koalas only need to drink when they are ill or when there is a lack of moisture during droughts as 90% of their moisture comes from the plants they eat. Koalas eat a wide range of eucalyptus leaves (12 species) and will also eat other leaf species such as Acacia, Mistletoe, Box Leaves and Leptospermum. The average Koala can eat 500 grams of eucalyptus leaves per day, chewing them to a fine paste with their sharp teeth and powerful jaws before swallowing. Koala DietĪ Koalas diet consists almost entirely of eucalyptus leaves. They spend most of their time up in the trees sitting on branches either napping or eating the leaves. Koalas prefer eucalyptus forests, coastal regions and moist woodlands. The toxins are deactivated and the paste is digested by bacterial fermentation in a greatly enlarged caecum which is 2 metres (6 feet 6 inches) long, the longest of any mammals. This could be one reason why koalas will eat only certain types of eucalypts and why they will sometimes even avoid them when they are growing on certain soils. Trees which grow on less fertile soils seem to have more toxins than those growing on good soils. The toxins are thought to be produced by the gum trees as a protection against leaf-eating animals like insects. The Koalas digestive system is especially adapted to detoxify the poisonous chemicals in the eucalyptus leaves. Their climbing strength comes from their thigh muscles joining their shins much lower than in other animals. Their lean, muscular bodies help support their weight when climbing up a tree. Koalas have an excellent sense of balance which means they are well suited to life in the trees. A gap between the incisors and the molars, called a ‘diastema’, allows the tongue to move the mass of leaves around the mouth efficiently. Their sharp incisors clip off leaves at the front of their mouths and their grinding cheek teeth chew their food. Koalas have similar teeth to those of a Kangaroo or Wombat which are adapted to their herbivorous diets. The average Koala grows to be around 2 feet tall. A Koalas weight varies from 30 pounds (14 kilograms) for larger species to 11 pounds (5 kilograms) for smaller species. Koala fingerprints are similar to human fingerprints and it is quite difficult to tell them apart, even under a microscope. ![]() Koalas are one of the few mammal species that actually have fingerprints. Koalas have 5 digits and are equipped with opposable thumbs which help them to grasp objects such as food and branches. Koalas limbs are long and they have large sharp claws to assist them with climbing trees. This is necessary to differentiate between types of eucalyptus leaves and to detect whether the leaves are poisonous or not. The Koalas nose is one of its most important features and it has a very highly developed sense of smell. Koalas have large ears with white hairs at the tips and small eyes. Mature males are recognisable by the brown ‘scent gland’ in the centre of their white chest. The fur on a koalas bottom is densely packed to provide a ‘cushion’ for the hard branches it sits upon. Their fur protects them from both high and low temperatures and acts like a raincoat to repel moisture when it rains. Koalas are thick-set animals with thick, soft, wool-like ash-grey colored coats with white underparts. The closest living relative of the Koala is a Wombat who is of similar appearance. Koalas are sometimes called ‘Koala Bears’, however, they are not really bears although they have been thought to resemble teddy bears. The word is said to mean ‘does not drink’ as the Koala receives over 90% of its moisture from the Eucalyptus leaves (also known as gum leaves) that are its main diet. The word koala comes from the Dharuk word ‘gula’. The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an Australian arboreal marsupial which is native to parts of Australia particularly Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |