Koala fingerprints. Fingerprints... koalas Which are almost exactly the same as koalas and humans

If the impossible happened, and a group of koalas robbed a bank, leaving fingerprints at the crime scene, then criminologists would be absolutely sure that people committed the crime. Koala fingerprints are almost identical to human ones. Koalas are one of the few non-primate animals to have a papillary pattern on their toe pads. It is this pattern among animals that is closest to the human one. What are the patterns on the fingers for? There is still no consensus. Researchers from the University of Adelaide (Australia), who found that humans and koalas have identical fingerprints, believe that this feature increases the tenacity of the limbs. Koalas feed on eucalyptus leaves and, thanks to the papillary pattern, scientists believe, it is easier for koalas to grab such leaves and put them in their mouths.

Some more interesting facts about marsupial bears:

Yes. The structure of a cat's larynx, trachea and diaphragm is not so different from a dog's. All a cat has to do to bark is push air through the vocal cords with more force and speed than a meow.

2. The world is full of weird penises

The animal world is full of crazy penises! Take, for example, the 40-centimeter penis of the Argentine lake duck - this penis is larger than the bird itself and, moreover, is twisted like a corkscrew.

But this is nothing compared to the penises of shellfish, chained to rocks all their lives: their penis is 40 times their size! Moreover, the shells grow a new penis every time before the mating season, muscular and strong - if the water is choppy, long and flexible if the sea is calm.

Or the penis of a snake, for example, a python. It is Y-shaped, hooked, sometimes spiny and very strange.

3. Frogs can jump incredibly high

The cricket tree frog can jump up to 60 times its body size. To put it into perspective, it’s as if an average-sized person were able to jump to the 38th floor.

4. Some fish suffer from insomnia

Fans of aquarium fish can make observations themselves: the zebrafish of the carp family usually falls asleep with its tail down and sinking to the bottom. But if the zebrafish never went to bed and swam all night, the next day its reactions will be sluggish and its behavior will be lethargic, just like that of a person who has not had enough sleep.

Insomnia in fish is often associated with a lack of hypocreatine - the same problem is one of the causes of insomnia in humans.

Humans and great apes have fingerprints. This does not happen in marsupials, which include the koala.

It is believed that koalas evolved separately from other marsupial species. Scientists believe that the developed prehensile fingers of koalas have the same origin as those of primates: a lifestyle associated with constant movement through trees is to blame. Other marsupials, for example, wombats and kangaroos, are not interested in trees and vines and do not have developed fingers, much less with fingerprints.

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Inhabitant of eucalyptus trees. Yes, yes, this is exactly how you can briefly talk about koalas. These medium-sized marsupial cubs live in, and after artificial settlement by humans, their populations appeared on the island.

Koala a herbivore belonging to the class of marsupials. There is an opinion that the name koala, translated from the Aboriginal language, means that they do not drink water. Koala, photo which is presented below, still drinks water, she especially likes to collect dew from eucalyptus leaves.

This name for the animal was proposed by the Frenchman Henri Blainville, who is a specialist in the field of zoology and animal anatomy. The first inhabitants of the mainland called the koala tree bear.

Koala is often called tree bear

History of koalas

Koalas belong to the koala family, which are absolutely identical to the family. Modern paleontologists count about 19 different koala species and the most common species at the moment is called Phascolarctos cinereus, which in Latin means moving through trees.

The geography of the bear cub is not great. Koala lives and breeds actively in New South Wales. Some species of koalas are found in Queensland and Victoria. At the very beginning of the anthropogenic period, with a completely different climate, koala bear also lived in western Australia.

Appearance and character of the koala

The appearance of koalas is similar to very large wombats or small ones. However, their fur is much longer, thicker and softer to the touch. Koalas have elongated limbs, which helps them move through trees with ease.

They have large rounded ears and long arched claws that are capable of holding individuals weighing from 5 to 15 kilograms. The koala's upper paws are divided into two parts and are perfectly adapted for living in trees. The lower legs are much shorter and weaker, but this is not a disadvantage.

One of the interesting features is the koala's paw print, because it is absolutely identical to the human fingerprint. Koala teeth are the same format as those of a kangaroo or wobmate. Sharp and strong incisors, easily cutting leaves, are typical of the order of two-incisor marsupials.

Koala fingerprints are identical to human prints

Koalas are endowed with another unique feature. We are talking about the binary nature of their genitals. In koalas it is very pronounced. Females have two vaginas that lead to two separate uteruses. Males, in turn, have a forked penis, and these unusual features delight inexperienced lovers of the animal world and zoology.

It is also impossible not to note the record small brain of this animal. It makes up only two tenths of a percent of the koala's total weight. Experts believe that at the beginning of evolution it was much larger, but due to little activity when choosing food, the brain shrank and made the koala one of the negative record holders in the brain size competition among representatives of marsupials.

The lifespan of a tree bear cub reaches 18 years. Koalas very rarely make sounds, with the exception of situations when the animal is frightened or injured. Males scream during mating periods, as the female chooses the loudest and most powerful male for herself.

Lifestyle and nutrition of koalas

Koalas spend most of their lives in the canopy of trees, mainly eucalyptus. During the day, these animals are passive; they can sit or sleep on a tree for up to 15 hours, practically without moving. In cases when it is not possible to reach a neighboring tree in order to move to another branch, the koala slowly and reluctantly descends to the ground, as if fighting laziness.

However, in case of danger, the animal can quickly climb a tree and jump to another. Koalas are also capable of crossing water, but some force majeure circumstance may force them to swim; they will not do this for pleasure.

Koala is one of the laziest animals

According to scientists, such active passivity of this animal is due to the abundance of food, which does not require unnecessary movements to obtain it. By feeding on leaves and young shoots of eucalyptus, all processes in the koala’s body are inhibited. This is due to the fact that all the effort and energy goes into processing poisonous eucalyptus leaves, which contain phenolic and terpene compounds.

And eucalyptus shoots contain a high concentration of hydrocyanic acid. In addition to koalas, they also eat such poisonous food, so the competition is not great, and accordingly, why bother. So the koalas rest peacefully on the branches.

Social structure and reproduction of koalas

Koalas are solitary by nature and nature. They do not create families, they each live on their own. This applies to both females and males. They do not have a clear, protected territory, and only during the mating season and for reproduction, koalas gather in separate groups, such unique harems.

They consist of 3-5 individuals, one is male and the rest are females. The females were attracted by the scent of the male, which remained on the branches. The male rubs his chest against the branches, releasing breathtaking odors for the opposite sex.

The cry of males is also important. Females choose the appropriate scent and cry of the male for themselves and agree to mate. The whole process also takes place on wood. A month after conception, the female gives birth to one cub; twins are very rare and females are born more often than males.

Newborn koalats weigh about 6 grams and their body length is about 2 centimeters. For the next six months, the babies stay in their mother’s pouch, feeding on milk. They then settle down on the back or stomach of their parent and roll around there for some time. At 30-31 weeks, babies feed on the mother's feces, which begins to produce unusually thin and soft excrement.

Why do they do this, you ask? It turns out that this process is necessary for the subsequent digestion process of an adult koala. This is how the microorganisms needed to process poisonous eucalyptus enter the digestive system, namely the intestines.

In the photo there is a koala with a baby

A year later, young females go to develop their own area with eucalyptus trees for an independent life, and the males spend another year or two next to their mother, until they reach full puberty, and only after that they part.

On average, koalas live for about 14 years. Bears breed once every 1-2 years. There have been recorded cases of koalas living up to 21 years. In Russia, the koala can only be found in the zoo. You can also see below video about koala.

The koala is a small, cute, gentle animal that lives only on one continent - Australia. In the Aboriginal language, the word "koala" means "does not drink." The animal actually practically does not drink water, being content with the moisture contained in eucalyptus leaves. Its Greco-Latin generic name "Phascolarctos" means "marsupial bear". The koala has indeed been called a bear for a long time, but it is not a bear, and it has nothing to do with bears, except that it looks like a fluffy teddy bear. In fact, the koala is a marsupial; it is the only modern representative of the Koala family (Phascolarctidae).

Today the koala is the most beloved marsupial animal by Australians, one of the recognized symbols of Australia, but this was not always the case. The first European settlers killed millions of these defenseless animals for their thick fur. However, deforestation of eucalyptus forests, drought and fires posed an even greater threat to the survival of the species. The threat to koalas peaked in 1924, when more than 2 million pelts were exported. By then, koalas had disappeared from South Australia and most of Victoria and New South Wales. As a result of public protest, a ban on hunting was introduced starting in 1944, and only 10 years later their population began to gradually recover. Currently, in a number of areas, particularly in the south of its range, the koala has again become a common species, and the IUCN lists this animal as being of least concern. However, intensive deforestation poses a threat to northern populations.

The appearance of koalas is characteristic: the body is short and stocky, the head is large, round, with small eyes, large fluffy ears and a patch of bare skin on the nose. The tail is rudimentary, almost invisible from the outside. The color of the thick and soft fur on the dorsal side varies from gray to reddish-brown; There is white fur on the chin, chest and inner surface of the forelimbs. The ears are bordered with long white hair, the rump is covered with white spots. In the north of their habitat, the fur of the animals is shorter and less common.

The koala's body length is 70–85 cm, weight 7–12 kg. Males are more massive than females, they have a wider muzzle, and the size of the ears is smaller. In addition, males have a scent gland on their chest, with which they leave marks on trees within their territory. Females have a pouch with two nipples that opens back.

The koala is remarkably adapted for a sedentary arboreal lifestyle. Its body is covered with thick fur, which protects the animal from bad weather and temperature fluctuations, which is very important - after all, koalas do not have any shelters or shelters. Large paws are equipped with strongly curved claws, thanks to which the animal can easily climb the tallest tree with smooth bark. The photo shows a good view of the powerful and strong claws of a koala. If an animal sticks them into a tree, it will not fall down.

When climbing a eucalyptus tree, the koala grasps the trunk with its strong front paws, moving its body upward and at the same time pulling up its forelimbs. On the hind legs, the first toe is opposed to the others, the second and third are almost fused. On the front feet, the first and second toes are opposed to the others, providing a strong grip when climbing. The soles of the paws are bare, with a palpable pattern. An interesting fact is that koala fingerprints are almost identical to human ones.

The koala has a total of 30 teeth; the upper jaw retains three pairs of incisors and rudimentary fangs. The teeth are well adapted to feeding on eucalyptus leaves, which contain a large amount of fiber. Chewed leaves undergo microbial fermentation in the cecum, which is the longest in relation to body length of any mammal (its length is 1.8-2.5 meters).

In the photo, a koala habitually eats the leaves of his favorite eucalyptus tree.

The koala's brain, compared to its body size, is one of the smallest among mammals, only 0.2% of its total body weight. Scientists believe that this is due to adaptation to a low-calorie diet.

Where does the koala live?

Koalas are found only in Australia, where they are found over many hundreds of thousands of square kilometers in the east of the continent from northern Queensland to southern Victoria. Populations of these marsupials are often separated from each other by wide areas of cleared forests. Koalas have chosen moist mountain forests in the south, vineyards in the north, coppices and semi-desert landscapes in western Australia. Population density depends on the productivity of the land. In the south, in rain forests, it reaches 8 animals per hectare, and in the semi-desert zone, only one individual can live on an area of ​​100 hectares.

How does a koala live in the wild?

The life of koalas is closely connected with trees of the genus Eucalyptus, in the crowns of which they spend almost all their time. They spend most of the day (18-20 hours) sleeping, feeding takes 2-3 hours, and the rest of the time the animals just sit. Only occasionally do they descend to the ground to run from one tree to another.

Koalas usually sleep during the day, but at night they are busy leisurely absorbing eucalyptus leaves. The movements of the animals are usually very slow and lazy, although a frightened animal is capable of moving very quickly.

Koalas lead a sedentary lifestyle. Most are loners; they rarely live in pairs. Adult animals occupy certain habitat areas. In favorable conditions, these areas are relatively small: a male can occupy only 1.5-3 hectares, females even less - 0.5-1 hectares. In areas poor in vegetation, the male's area can be more than 100 hectares. The territory of a dominant male can overlap the areas of up to 9 females, and also the areas of subordinate males. Each animal has several favorite food trees on its individual plot.

In nature, the koala lives up to 10 years, the maximum known life expectancy in captivity is 18 years.

What do koalas eat? Eucalyptus diet

The leaves of the evergreen eucalyptus provide koalas with a constant source of food. An adult eats about 500 grams of fresh leaves per day, and although more than 600 species of eucalyptus trees grow on the Green Continent, the koala eats leaves of only 30 of them. In different regions, preference is given to different types of eucalyptus, but mainly to those that grow in conditions of high humidity.

Such a diet may seem dubious at first glance, because eucalyptus leaves are inedible or even poisonous to most herbivores. They are low in nutrients and contain a lot of indigestible fiber, as well as toxic phenols and terpenes. However, these animals have several adaptations that help them cope with such inedible food. They do not eat some leaves at all; the toxic components of others are neutralized by the liver and excreted from the body. Since the diet is low in calories, koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day. They conserve water and, except in the hottest weather, obtain the necessary moisture from the leaves they eat. Thus, evolution gave koalas a source of food that was available all year round, and also freed them from food competition.

Continuation of the family line

Koalas are polygamous, with a small number of males accounting for the majority of matings. But the details of the distribution of matings between dominant and subdominant animals are not fully understood.

Both female and male koalas reach sexual maturity at two years of age. From this time, females begin to reproduce, while males begin breeding 2-3 years later, when they become large enough to compete for a female.

The breeding season is in spring and early summer (September–January). At this time, males move very long distances, and clashes often occur between them when they meet. During “weddings” the “grooms” constantly roar. These calls, consisting of loud inhalations followed by bubbling exhalations, are designed to attract the attention of brides and also warn competitors. The call of one male usually evokes a response from nearby relatives. During this period, males often mark the boundaries of their territory by rubbing their chests against trees.

The female brings one litter per year of one, less often of two cubs. Pregnancy lasts 35 days. The baby is extremely small at birth - its weight is less than 0.5 kg. The newborn climbs into the pouch, where it is securely attached to one of the two nipples. The small koala spends approximately 6 months in the pouch, where it grows and develops. The mother carries him on her back for some time.

From the age of seven months, the baby switches to feeding on a special gruel made from semi-digested eucalyptus leaves, secreted by the mother’s digestive system, getting used to the food of adult animals. A young koala becomes independent by the age of 11 months, but usually continues to stay close to its mother for several more months.

Conservation in nature

In nature, the koala has practically no enemies; predators do not favor its meat, apparently due to the fact that it has a strong eucalyptus smell. Despite this, animals are often considered vulnerable. Although no one has officially counted these marsupials, according to unofficial data, their number ranges from 40 thousand to 1 million. Habitat destruction is the main threat to most koala populations in the northern part of their range. But the situation is much more serious in the semi-desert regions of central Queensland, where about 400 thousand hectares are cleared annually for pastures and other agricultural needs. And although environmentalists are sounding the alarm and trying to stop the destruction of forests, the problem remains relevant in the agricultural areas of central Queensland.

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