Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Fact Sheet: Summary

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Diprotodontia — kangaroos, wombats, pygmy possums, gliders and others

Suborder: Vombatiformes — wombats and koalas

Family: Phascolarctidae — koalas

Genus: Phascolarctos

Species: Phascolarctos cinereus — koala

Body Weight:
Male: average of 11 kg (24 lbs)
Female: average 8 kg (~20 lbs)

Body Length: 60-85 cm (20-33 in)

Tail Length: Vestigial

Pelage: Dense and wooly; top gray,
undersides white;white dappling on rump.

Other: Teddy bear-like in shape; black
leathery nose; rear opening pouch;
first two fingers opposable to other three
(zygodactyly); first toe opposable to other
four; each digit has strongly curved claw.

Range: Eastern and southeastern
Australia from Queensland to South Australia

Habitat: Eucalyptus forests

IUCN Status: Vulnerable (2014 assessment)

CITES Appendix: not listed

Population in Wild:  About 330,00 individuals (300,000 mature) across Australia.
 

Locomotion: Arboreal, but moves
from tree to tree on the ground on
all fours with side-to-side gait; can swim

Activity Cycle: Spends up to 20
hours/day sleeping and resting;
active throughout 24 hour cycle.

Social Groups: Non-social except for
mother and joey; joey remains with
female until birth of a another joey;
even though described as rather solitary,
koalas live within a complex network of
other koalas

Diet: Mostly Eucalyptus leaves

Threats: Habitat destruction, climate
change, predation by dogs and dingoes,
being hit by cars, Chlamydia in some populations

Sexual Maturity: Males rarely breed if younger than 4 years.
Females around 2-3 years are sexually mature

Gestation: 35 days

Litter Size: Usually 1, rarely 2

Birth weight: 0.5 g (0.018 oz)

Age at Weaning: about 12 months

Typical Life Expectancy:
Wild populations: about 10–12 years, on average
Managed care: median life expectancy of about 10 years (for Queensland koala, Phascolarctos cinereus adustus).

Feature Facts

• Eucalyptus-dependent marsupial native to Australia; powerful jaws for chewing tough leaves
• Strong claws for climbing and sleeping in trees
• Koala fingerprints, like those of humans, are unique for each individual
• Young develop in pouch and later ride on mother's back; sometimes stay with mother up to 2 years, until next joey is born
• Popular because of "teddy bear" appearance
• Important in Aboriginal mythology and folklore
• First koala pair came to San Diego Zoo in 1925. Most successful breeding program of any zoo outside of Australia.