How do koalas adapt to their environment?
Quick Answer
A koala adapts to its environment with opposable thumbs, a great sense of smell, a dense coat and a unique digestive system. A koala has two opposable thumbs on its front paws and one on each of its back paws so that it can easily grip branches.
Continue ReadingFull Answer
The koala adapts to its environment with a great sense of smell. It uses its nose to sniff out the best leaves for eating. The koala only feeds on a few of the 600 species of eucalyptus tree leaves, which means that its nose is essential to finding these particular species.
Another critical adaptation for the koala is its digestive system. The koala eats only eucalyptus leaves, which are poisonous. In order to digest the toxins in the leaves and the high-fiber content, the koala digestive tract contains special bacteria that break down the toxins. When baby koalas are getting ready to leave the pouch, the mother produces pap, which contains fecal matter with these unique bacteria. The baby feeds on the pap in order to introduce the bacteria into its digestive tract so that it can start eating eucalyptus leaves.
Another adaptation of the koala is its dense fur coat. This fur acts as a cushion for its bottom while it sits in trees. It also keeps it warm in cold weather.
Learn more about MarsupialsRelated Questions
-
Q:
Can you adopt a koala?
A: Koalas may not be adopted for the sake of being kept as pets due to their protected species status, as explained by the Australian Koala Foundation. Howeve... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What does a koala eat?
A: Koalas are known as herbivores, which are animals that feed primarily on plants and plant leaves. Koalas feed primarily on the leaves of the eucalyptus tre... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is an evil koala?
A: An evil koala, more commonly known as a "drop bear," is a fictitious Australian marsupial. They are said to be large, vicious and carnivorous animals that ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Are koalas mean?
A: Koalas are known for having an unpleasant temperament. For the most part, however, they tend to avoid aggressive behaviors that require expending a lot of ... Full Answer >Filed Under:
You May Also Like
-
Q:
Are koala bears dangerous?
-
Q:
Why is fracking bad for the environment?
-
Q:
What are some things North American opossums eat?
-
Q:
What kinds of adaptations does the rhinoceros have to help it survive in its environment?
-
Q:
How does technology affect the environment?
-
Q:
How do you calculate an environment's lapse rate?
