Koalas
The furry,gray koala lives high in th tops of the eucalyptus trees. Now a protected species, it is still threatened by the loss of thier habitatdue to wildfire.
Feeding habits
Koalas feed on only milk for the first 6 months of their lives within their mothers' pouches. After 30 weeks, they begin to eat a semi-liquid form of their mother's excrement known as pap. From there up until 12 months of age, they feed on milk and gum leaves.
Once koalas are out on their own, their diet consists of primarily eucalyptus leaves. These are low in protein, high with indigestible substances, and have phenolic and terpene compounds which are toxic to most other animals. Average koalas eat 500 grams of eucalyptus leaves every day. Some favorite eucalyptus leaf "flavors" are: Manna Gum, Blue Gum, Swamp Gum, Grey Gum, Tallowwood, and River Red Gum.
Size
Size is larger in the southern regions. Head-body length in the south average 30.7 in for males and 28 in for females.Average 26 lbs for southern males and 17.4 lbs for southern females.
Reprodution
Usually, koalas produce only a single young, rarely twins are born.
At birth, the young is about 19 mm in length and weighs about 0.5 g.
At 7 weeks, the young has a head length of about 26 mm. The head is large in proportion to the rest of the body.
By 13 weeks, the young has attained a body weight of about 50 g and a head length of 50 mm.
At about 22 weeks of age, the eyes open and the young begins to poke its head out of the pouch for the first time.
By 24 weeks of age, the cub is fully furred and the first teeth erupt.
At 30 weeks, the cub weighs about 0.5 kg and has a head length of 70 mm. It now spends most of the time out of the pouch clinging to the mother's belly.
Some 6 weeks later, the cub weighs 1 kg and no longer enters the pouch. It spends much of the time sitting on the mother's back, but returns to the mother's belly in cold, wet weather and to sleep.
At 37 weeks, the cub moves from contact with the mother; the excursions were brief and quickly terminated if the mother moved.
At 44 weeks, the cub still ventures less than a meter from the mother.
By 48 weeks, the cub is more adventurous and no longer squeaked when the mother was removed. At this age, mother and cub are often seen sleeping back to back.
The cub remains with the mother until about 12 months of age when it weighs a little over 2 kg.
