Koala Physical Characteristics
The koala is an arboreal (tree dwelling) herbivorous (plant eating) marsupial. Earlier European settlers had incorrectly labeled the koala as being a bear. Koalas do not live in the rain forests or in deserts. They live in tall eucalypt forests and low eucalypt woodlands.
Adult koalas in the Port Stephens area weigh between 6kg and 10kg with the average male approximately 8kg and the female 6kg – 7kg. Koalas in the south of Australia are larger than their Port Stephens counterpart. Their fur also tends to be thicker and browner in colour. Their life span, in ideal conditions, appears to be from 10 to 14 years.
The koala is one of the few mammals, which have a face rather than a muzzle with the eyes being directed to the front rather than to the sides and a large nose pad.
Adult koalas in the Port Stephens area weigh between 6kg and 10kg with the average male approximately 8kg and the female 6kg – 7kg. Koalas in the south of Australia are larger than their Port Stephens counterpart. Their fur also tends to be thicker and browner in colour. Their life span, in ideal conditions, appears to be from 10 to 14 years.
The koala is one of the few mammals, which have a face rather than a muzzle with the eyes being directed to the front rather than to the sides and a large nose pad.
Koala Identification
The colour and pattern of the koala coat can vary greatly between individuals and with age. The back is generally grey interrupted with white patches on the rump. These speckled patches of white make it much harder to see koalas from the ground. The rump fur is also more densely packed to provide a cushion for sitting on the branches.
The tips of the ears, under the chin, chest and abdomen are usually white.
The tips of the ears, under the chin, chest and abdomen are usually white.
Identifying Mature Male
The brown stain on the chest can easily identify a mature male koala. The stain comes from a gland in the middle of his chest, which produces an orange coloured, and used to mark the trees the koala enters by rubbing this gland against the base of the tree and the trunk as they climb.
It is thought the male koala is marking his territory as a stimulant to adult female koalas and a warning to other males in the area. Both sexes will occasionally deposit urine on the trunk or the ground around the tree to warn off other individuals from a tree occupied by the marker.
It is thought the male koala is marking his territory as a stimulant to adult female koalas and a warning to other males in the area. Both sexes will occasionally deposit urine on the trunk or the ground around the tree to warn off other individuals from a tree occupied by the marker.
The koala paws are specially adapted for gripping and climbing but most of the strength comes from the thigh muscles, which join the shin much lower than many other mammals. The first two digits of the hand oppose the remaining three, giving the hand the appearance of having three fingers and two thumbs. All digits have claws.
The foot is short and broad with the big toe out at right angles to the main line of the foot. This toe lacks a claw. The next two toes are long and are fused together to form a comb, which is used for grooming. These and the remaining toes have claws.
The foot is short and broad with the big toe out at right angles to the main line of the foot. This toe lacks a claw. The next two toes are long and are fused together to form a comb, which is used for grooming. These and the remaining toes have claws.
Sleeping Habits
Observations have shown that approximately 19 hours each day is spent resting or sleeping, 1 to 3 hours spent feeding in periods of varying duration and the remainder is made up of social behaviour, moving between branches or trees and grooming activities.
Koalas are mainly nocturnal but do engage in some activity during the day, however, social behaviour and moving between trees occurs most frequently at night.
Koalas are mainly nocturnal but do engage in some activity during the day, however, social behaviour and moving between trees occurs most frequently at night.
In hot weather the koala can be seen lying on a branch with limbs extended and laying either side of the branch. On cold, wet or windy days they sit with their backs to the wind, arms folded against their chest and legs drawn in against their belly.
Koalas are primarily tree dwellers and only come to the ground to change trees or to seek shade. A koala spending a lot of time on the ground usually indicates ill health or injury.
Community education is important as people need to be aware of abnormal behaviour so as Care groups can be notified to assess the koala. The longer they spend on the ground the more vulnerable they become to attacks from other animals.
Koalas are primarily tree dwellers and only come to the ground to change trees or to seek shade. A koala spending a lot of time on the ground usually indicates ill health or injury.
Community education is important as people need to be aware of abnormal behaviour so as Care groups can be notified to assess the koala. The longer they spend on the ground the more vulnerable they become to attacks from other animals.
Telltale signs that koalas may be living in your neighbourhood include
- Small pockmarks or larger rake marks on smooth barked trees
- Olive-pit shaped droppings at the base of tree. Freshly passed pellets often have a glistening appearance due to a thin, transparent mucous coating. When broken open they reveal a densely packed mass of fibre. The size, number passed and texture can vary slightly between koalas. As a guide, a healthy adult male will pass from 100 - 160 pellets over a 24-hour period, females from 100 - 120 and juveniles 60 - 80. The pellets in healthy koalas are non-offensive in odour and dry very quickly. The pellets passed by babies are similar in size to that of a mouse, but are more moist owing to fluid intake and possess a much different odour.
Koala pellets
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Koala scratch marks
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Source - Port Stephens Council Australia Koala Foundation: www.savethekoala.com
