Phascolarctos cinereus - Koala

Laura Cattaneo

Common Name: Koala Scientific Name: Phascolarctos cinereus Kingdom Name: Animilia Phylum Name: Phascolarcidae Class Name: Mammalia

Classification Information

Evolutionary advantage◦ Have powerful bit force to eat eucalyptus leaves◦ Loud and complex vocalization

This is a trait the most marsupials have Symmetry

◦ bilateral Body cavity

◦ Coelomates Type of organism

◦ Parasitic◦ Herbivore◦ Terrestrial

Type of Segmentation◦ Coelomate

Head, Thorax, Abdomen

Common Characteristics

Average life span◦ Can live up to 20 years◦ Typically one offspring per year

Produce offspring up to 12 times Reproduction

◦ Sexual

Life Cycle/Reproduction

Newborn AdultTeenager

Grandparent

Habitat◦ Eucalypt forests

Australia◦ Coastal islands◦ Not in rainforests as many people assume◦ Need other koalas to survive

Diet◦ Eucalyptus leaves◦ Sometimes other trees

Wattle tea tree Paperbark

◦ Gum leaves For water

Description of Habitat/Niche

Physical Characteristics◦ Large ears◦ Round belly◦ Toes

Interesting Behavior◦ Live in trees

Conservation◦ Not currently endangered

Has been endangered in past Fur was used to make clothing Forest was destroyed

Special Characterists

Click on the link to enjoy a video of a koala crossing a road in Magnet Island, Australia◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMclDlz3d14

Video

"ADW: Phascolarctos Cinereus: Pictures." Animal Diversity Web. Web. 03 May 2011. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/pictures/Phascolarctos_cinereus.html>.

"Koala ( Phascolarctos Cinereus ) - Koala Information – Koala Facts, Pictures, Photos - WildAnimalsOnline.com." Wild Animals Online - An Online Encyclopedia of Wild Animals - Facts, Photos, Pictures, Information. Web. 03 May 2011. <http://www.wildanimalsonline.com/mammals/koala.php>.

"Koala Bear - Phascolarctos Cinereus." Blue Planet Biomes. Web. 03 May 2011. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/koala_bear.htm>.

"Light Shed on Koala Evolution." PhysOrg.com - Science News, Technology, Physics, Nanotechnology, Space Science, Earth Science, Medicine. Web. 09 May 2011. <http://www.physorg.com/news184308529.html>.

Works Cited