Sleeping beauty

Koala in the wild on Kangaroo Island, Australia


Koalas have a low metabolic rate and sleep for 16 to 18 hours a day. Their diet consists of eucalyptus leaves which are low protein, highly indigestible leaves that contain compounds that are toxic to most other animals. They have two opposable thumbs and sharp claws to assist them in climbing trees where they are safe from preditors, which are predominately dogs and automobiles these days. They have evolved a shrunken brain - probably due to their low energy diet - and approximately 40% of their cranial cavity consists of cerebrospinal fluid.

Young joeys are hidden in the pouch for about six months where they feed on their mother's milk before emerging.

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