Koalas

Koalas

Koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus )are herbivorous marsupial native to Australia.

The scientific name of koala’s genus, Phascolarctos, is derived from Greek, phaskolos = pouch and arktos = bear. Its species name, cinereus, is Latin and means ash-coloured.

Koalas are similar in appearance to the wombat, but has a thicker coat, larger ears and longer limbs. Koala has large and sharp claws to assist when they climb tree trunks. Its weight are different each other, from about 14 kg for a large male koala to about 5 kg for a small female koala.

Koalas are found in coastal region of eastern and southern Australia, from Adelaide to the southern part of Cape York Peninsula. Koala still found in inland region. But, koalas are not found in Tasmania or Western Australia.

Koalas live almost entirely on eucalypt leaves. Like wombats and sloths, koala has a very low metabolic rate for a mammal and rests motionless for about 16 to 18 hours a day, sleeping most of that time. Koala’s feeding occurs at any time of day, but usually at night.

A healthy female koala can produce one baby each year for about 12 years. A baby koala is hairless, blind and earless. At birth, only a quarter of an inch long, crawls into their mother’s pouch. Baby koala hidden in the pouch for about 6 months. During this time they grows ears, eyes and fur. Then, after 1 year, they can live alone and explore outside of the pouch.

Groups Members :

1. Endah M. Nurcahyani                   (09)

2. Jeane Silviana                                (13)

3. Nanik Latifah                                (15)

4. Ulfah Nur Aini                              (22)

5. Yulia Enita                                     (24)