Koala

Koala
Phascolarctos cinereus

Although commonly thought to be largely inactive due to their low quality eucalypt diet, Koalas regularly move between trees at night to find food or a mate.

The Koala’s closest relatives are the wombats; these groups shared a common ancestor around 30 million years ago. The modern koala is now the sole remaining species of an ancient and diverse family, with the fossil record suggesting that up to 18 koala-like species previously existed across Australia.

Distribution: mainland Australia from south-eastern South Australia to northern Queensland
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN), Vulnerable (EPBC Act)
Evolutionary distinctiveness: High