There is hardly a single adult who has not heard of koalas, although the civilized world knows about them relatively recently. For the first time these animals were seen during the second expedition to Australia, where they were named koala bears.
Scientists zoologists only over time determined that koalas have nothing in common with bears. Remains of creatures similar to koalas were found, whose age totaled more than 20 million years. This is one of the most ancient species of animals, whose appearance has been preserved for 15 million years. Zoologists have created a separate family of koalas, but so far, apart from the koalas themselves, no one is included in it.
Outwardly, they resemble wombats, and although koalas are also representatives of the order of two-incised marsupials, they are much smaller and lead a different lifestyle. Their weight varies from 5 to 14 kg. Koalas have thick fur that can reach 3 cm. Like most mammals, koalas are five-toed, but their paws are unusual. The front feet have two "thumbs" and three normal toes. The fifth toe on the hind limbs does not end in a claw, and the koala's claws are strong and allow them to firmly hold onto branches.
Koalas are rather slow animals. This is due to their measured lifestyle. Most of the time they spend in trees, not experiencing danger from the attack of other wild species of animals. The koala can be motionless for almost a day (16-18 hours). The main food for koalas is eucalyptus leaves.
Koalas live in eucalyptus forests, where they spend most of their lives. They are common in northeastern Australia and Victoria. Unfortunately, in the last century in the south of the country, koalas were massacred, but the authorities managed to calm down the poachers and return the population of "marsupial bears" to these lands.
