Koala, Portrait, Victoria, Australia

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Contrary to the popular name "koala bear", koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are not bears. They are a marsupial herbivore native to Australia, and the only representative of the family Phascolarctidae that still exists. Koalas are found in coastal regions of eastern and southern Australia, and inland in regions with enough moisture to support suitable woodlands. Koalas are not found in Tasmania or Western Australia.

These typically sleepy and slow moving animals can leap more than six feet horizontally to nearby trees and live almost entirely on eucalyptus leaves. Koalas also obtain most of their water from the leaves, but will sometimes drink water from other available sources. They sleep between 18 and 22 hours per day due to their very low-energy diet.

When temperatures rise above approximately 26 ºC (80 ºF), koalas increase the evaporative cooling in their airways by increasing their respiration rates. They simultaneously compensate for the extra water loss by decreasing the amount of water in their urine. Unlike bears, koalas do not have an insulating layer of fat below their skin. In colder temperatures koalas will curl their bodies into a ball when sleeping to reduce heat loss. At temperatures below about 10 ºC (50 ºF) koalas will sometimes shiver to produce extra body heat.