Post on 17-Oct-2014
description
Koala Bears
By: Laura Dion
General Information
Common Name: Koala Bear
Scientific Name: Phascolarctus Cinereus
Family: Phascolarctidae
Order: Marsupialia
Color: Gray
Statistics
Height: About 24inches
Lives more than 10 years in the wild
Lives up to 20 years in captivity
Sexual Maturity:
Males: 3-4 years
Females: 2-3 years
Mating:
September-January in southern part of range.
November- February in Northern part
Habitat
Classification: Solitary Tree Dweller
Lives almost exclusively in the branches of Eucalyptus Trees
Range of Habitat
Coastal regions of South Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria)
Now, the koala is a protected species. Sanctuaries flourish in Victoria and Queensland. They are being reintroduced to South Australia where they had become locally extinct.
Food Source
Eucalyptus Leaves
There are more than 100 species of eucalyptus trees, but Koalas only feed on 12 of them.
How the Koala Climbs
To climb, a koala clasps a tree trunk between its forepaws and draws its hind legs up together in a series of small rapid
jumps.
Fun FactsKoalas are NocturnalA koala never has to drink anything, because it gets all its liquid from eucalyptus leaves.A newborn koala is only the size of a lima bean. Its hind legs are barely formed, but its forelimbs and claws are relatively well developed. It drags itself to the pouch by following a trail of saliva laid down by its mother.Koalas are excellent swimmers, because they need to cross rivers to survive heavy flooding.Many koalas are killed in sanctuaries because they are run over by cars.
Works Cited:Slide 1:
http://www.natyu.com/images/stories/koala1/gtotem_koala.jpg
Slide 2: King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://jazzdad.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/koala.jpg
Slide 3:King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://graeworthington.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/koala_safe.jpg
Slide 4: King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://imagecache6.allposters.com/LRG/26/2677/KGAUD00Z.jpg
Slide 5:King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2677484290_dd49586339.jpg
Slide 6:King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://www.animalfactguide.com/images/maps/worldmap_koala.png http://www.koala-bears.org/images/australia-map.jpg
Slide 7:King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I1LULKOmT_w/TA7DQrUeBvI/AAAAAAAAAEM/ig_leWiaS4w/s1600/koalas-asutralianos.jpg http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/anphys/2000/CrawfordC/claws.jpg
Slide 8: King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File. Pittsburg, PA.: International Masters Publishers, 1997.http://www.blog-city.info/en/img8/8803_koala05.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2f85ULzcgMY/TQeRIj2xhUI/AAAAAAAAASQ/N91J2jL7suo/s1600/Koala%252BBear.jpg http://media.nowpublic.net/images//a5/b/a5b859afcc96887d86ebc50a9c07edd2.jpg http://www.blog-city.info/en/img8/8803_Koala_Baby.jpg