Once the baby is conceived, it is born just 35 days later. Female koalas live for 12 years on average and will have about 5 or 6 babies during their life. Sometimes, wild females will have offspring less frequently, depending on the conditions. At this time of year, any young koalas from the previous breeding season will leave their mothers to find their own territory.įemale koalas start breeding when they reach 3-4 years of age, usually having one baby a year. During this time, koalas move about a lot more, and the males will bellow more often. Koala breeding season runs from around August to February. Let’s delve deeper into koala’s relationship with their environment and other animals of the same species. We agree this sounds rather gross – but it’s also an amazing biological feature! Ecology and Behavior of Koala The mummy koala excretes a runny fecal liquid called “pap”, which the baby eats up to gain the bacteria needed to digest leaves as an adult. Most animals are born with this already present, but koalas must acquire it from their mothers outside of the womb. The remaining plant matter is then digested as normal.Īnother cool feature of the koala digestive system is their lack of gut bacteria at birth. The toxins in the leaves are carried to the liver, where they are excreted in their urine and feces. This enhances nutrient absorption in their stomach. Koalas have ridged molars, which they use to grind down eucalypt leaves into a paste. This allows them to take advantage of a food source that other creatures cannot. Alongside gliders and possums, koalas are the only animals that can eat this poisonous plant. Interestingly, koalas are able to break down toxic compounds present in eucalyptus leaves. This is why koalas are slow-moving and sleep a lot to conserve their energy levels. They get almost all of their water from leaves, so they don’t need to come down from the tree tops to drink unless it’s very hot. Koalas eat about 500 grams of leaves a day. Koalas eat mostly eucalyptus leaves, but they will also eat paperbark, brush box, and bloodwood tree leaves. They are known for having a pretty simple diet. The fur on their bottom is particularly thick, so it acts as a comfortable cushion when they sit down on hard branches! Interesting Facts About Koalas They will sometimes have little patches of white on their back legs, too. These tree animals have areas of white on their chins, inside the ears, and on the neck and chest. Southern koalas usually have dark brown coats, while those that live in the north tend to be lighter gray. The color of a koala’s coat differs depending on where they live. In heavy rain, their coat repels water to keep them dry and cozy. They also have very thick fur that shields them against very hot and very cold temperatures. On their hind paws, one digit lacks a claw, while the second and third digits are combined together to create a double grooming claw for easy tick removal. Each paw has five digits, just like human hands, but two of them are opposed so they can grab onto the branch with a tight grip. They have rough pads and long, sharp claws. Koalas also have special paws that are perfectly designed for climbing. Both the front and back legs are similar in length, and they have powerful thigh muscles to propel them up tree trunks. They have a sleek and muscular physique, with strong, lengthy limbs that support their weight as they climb. However, there are some remnants of a tail in their skeletal structure, so they are likely to have had a tail in the past.Īlthough they lack a tail, koalas are experts at balancing on branches.

They are unique in that they do not have an external tail, which is often used by arboreal creatures for balance. Koalas are particularly well-adapted to life in the treetops.

Koalas predators and threats