Koala Facts
The koala is a tree-dwelling, plant-eating marsupial, a mammal from Australia that lives almost entirely on eucalyptus leaves.
- Class
- Mammal
- Scientific name
- Phascolarctos cinereus
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable (IUCN)
About the koala
Koalas live in coastal areas of eastern and southern Australia, across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Look for a stout body with no tail, a big head, round fluffy ears and a large dark nose. They measure 60 to 85 cm long, weigh 4 to 15 kg and range from silver gray to chocolate brown, with northern koalas usually smaller and lighter.
Eucalyptus leaves are low in nutrients and calories and contain toxins most mammals avoid, so koalas move little and may sleep twenty hours in a day. Adults mostly keep to themselves. Males bellow to warn rivals and attract mates. Joeys are born tiny, crawl into the pouch and stay there for six to seven months and finish weaning at about a year.
Did you know?
- Of all living animals, wombats are the koala's closest relatives.
- Calling it a koala bear is inaccurate, since the koala is a marsupial.
- Chlamydiaceae bacteria and koala retrovirus are among the threats to koalas.
Questions about the koala
What do koalas eat?
Koalas eat mostly eucalyptus leaves.
Are koalas endangered?
The IUCN lists the koala as Vulnerable.
Sources
- Wikidata Q36101, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Koala, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.