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Being a scientist is fun: doing new, sometimes crazy experiments every day. For example, counting how many ants are on earth, asking a dolphin to talk on the phone, or watching butterflies during an earthquake.

site knows that it is precisely such experiments that confirm the most incredible facts, and chose the best of them.

Oxford University is older than the Aztec empire

Education at Oxford began as early as 1096, and the founding year of the Aztec city-state of Tenochtitlan was 1325. This means that Oxford is 200 years older.

Giving each other an oath of allegiance or a promise, you need to grapple with your little fingers. The gesture means that the one who broke the promise should cut off this finger.

This gesture comes from Japan. Making a promise to each other, the children interlock their little fingers and say the following phrase: “I make a promise on the little finger, if I lie, I will swallow a thousand needles, I swear.”

In fact, back in the Edo period (1603-1868), it was customary for bandit clans to prove their loyalty by cutting off their little finger on their right hand. And later, in our time, the children turned it into a game.

Diamonds Rain on Jupiter and Saturn

On these two gas giants you can see the real sky in diamonds. According to scientists, the pressure inside the giant planets can easily turn carbon into diamond.

First, lightning discharges turn methane into carbon, which hardens during the fall and after 1,600 km becomes lumps of graphite (the one that we have in pencils), and after another 6,000 km these lumps become diamonds.

There are over 1.6 million ants for every person on earth.

According to the calculations of world myrmecologists, from 1 to 10 quadrillion ants live on earth today. For every living person, there are more than 1 million of these creatures, and their total mass is approximately equal to the total mass of all people.

There are more fake flamingos than real flamingos around the world

Flamingo is a rare bird. And so beautiful that people want to see her in their backyard or on the lawn of a country house. That is why there are several times more artificial flamingos on earth than live ones. There are 2–3 million living individuals, and almost 1 billion plastic counterparts.

Strawberry is not a berry

The fact is that the “berry” of a strawberry is not its fruit. This is just an overgrown receptacle, on the surface of which there are real strawberries - these small green dots, nuts. You will probably need time to get used to this.

But a banana is a berry

The world has turned upside down again. The banana plant is essentially a giant grass, and bananas are its berries. According to the definition, a berry is "a soft, juicy fruit containing several seeds". What is a banana.

Pyrosome - a hollow transparent 30-meter worm that lives in the ocean

This creature is called the sea unicorn. They are so rare that they have only been seen a few times. The pyrosome is like a transparent giant hollow worm that is made up of many other organisms that glow in the dark and make exact copies of themselves. It is believed that they can grow to the size of a whale.

Mithridates VI could not poison himself because he was immune to poison

Mithridates VI (Pontic king) from childhood took small doses of a mixture of poisonous plants in order to develop immunity to them. During the uprising, the Romans wanted to take him prisoner, so Mithridates tried to poison himself, but was unsuccessful. He was immune to most known poisons. What irony!

If we lived in complete darkness, we could stay awake for 36 hours, but it would take 12 hours to get enough sleep.

How many hours will a day last for a person who lives "out of time", that is, having no way to determine the time of day by external signs?

From 1964 to 1972, the French caver Michel Sifr conducted several experiments, including on himself. He placed himself in a specially equipped bunker, where there was no sunlight, with constant temperature, humidity and complete silence. He spent several months in such conditions.

The results of the experiment showed that his biological clock had changed: he needed 36 hours for wakefulness and 12 hours for sleep. Later, the same experiments were carried out in a cave on other participants. The results were the same.

The length of the foot is the same as the length of the forearm. The thumb is the same length as the nose. And the length of the lips is the same as the index finger

You just checked it, didn't you? These are the standard and correct proportions of the human body, which artists are guided by when creating paintings depicting a person. Such proportions were determined by Leonardo Da Vinci in the famous drawing "Vitruvian Man".

Neil Armstrong's spacesuit was made in a bra factory

Few people know, but the suit of the first man on the moon was sewn at a bra and underwear factory located in Dover (Delaware, USA). We hope he was comfortable.

The gadget is one of the first three atomic bombs

As part of the American Manhattan Project in 1943, 3 atomic bombs were created: plutonium "Thing" (Gadget) (exploded during the first nuclear test), uranium "Kid" (Little Boy) (dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945) and plutonium "Fat Man" (dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945).

Ann Hodges is the only person to survive a meteorite impact.

American Ann Elizabeth Hodges became the first woman on the planet who got an object of extraterrestrial origin (November 30, 1954 near the city of Sulacoga, Alabama, USA). A grapefruit-sized fragment pierced the roof of a frame house, ricocheted off the radio housing, and hit Ann while she was dozing on the couch. Soon after this incident, Ann Hodges became a real celebrity.

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

Koala herbivore belonging to the class of marsupials. There is an opinion that the name koala, translated from the language of the natives, means that they do not drink water. Koala, photo which is presented below, still uses water, especially she 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.

The koala is often referred to as the tree bear.

History of koalas

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

The geography of the bear cub is not great. Koala lives and actively breeds 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 lived in western Australia.

The 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 to easily move through the trees.

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

One of interesting features is the fingerprint of the paw of a koala, because it is absolutely identical to the fingerprint of a person. Koala teeth, the same format as those of kangaroos or wobmats. Sharp and strong incisors, easily cutting leaves, are typical of the group of two-incisor marsupials.

Koala fingerprints are identical to human prints

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

It is also impossible not to note the record-breaking small brain of this animal. It makes up only two tenths of a percent of the total weight of the koala. 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 life expectancy 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 periods of mating games, as the female chooses the most sonorous and powerful male for herself.

Lifestyle and nutrition of koalas

Koalas spend most of their lives in the crown 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 not moving. In cases where 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 struggling with laziness.

However, in case of danger, the animal is quite quickly able to climb a tree and jump to another. Also, koalas are able to overcome water spaces, but some force majeure can force them to swim, for the sake of pleasure they will not do this.

Koala is one of the laziest animals

According to scientists, such an active passivity of this animal is due to the abundance of food, which does not require extra movements for its production. Eating leaves and young shoots of eucalyptus, all processes in the body of the koala are inhibited. This is due to the fact that all the forces and energy go into the processing of poisonous eucalyptus leaves, which contain phenolic and terpene compounds.

And eucalyptus shoots contain a high concentration of hydrocyanic acid. In addition to koalas, they eat such poisonous food, and therefore the competition is not great, and therefore why strain. Here are the koalas and rest on the branches calmly.

Social structure and reproduction of koalas

Koalas are loners by nature and nature. They do not create families, they 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 breeding, koalas gather in separate groups, such peculiar harems.

They consist of 3-5 individuals, one male and the rest females. The females were attracted by the smell of the male, which remains on the branches. The male rubs his chest against the branch, highlighting breathtaking odors for the opposite sex.

The call of males is also important. Females choose for themselves the appropriate smell and call of the male and agree to mate. The whole process also takes place on the tree. A month after conception, the female has one cub, twins happen very rarely and females are born more often than males.

Newborn koalata weigh about 6 grams, and the body length is about 2 centimeters. The next six months, the kids are in the mother's bag, eating milk. They then position themselves on their parent's back or stomach and ride there for some more time. At 30-31 weeks, babies feed on the mother's feces, which begins to produce unusually liquid and soft excrement.

Why are they doing this, you ask? It turns out that this process is necessary for the subsequent process of digestion of an already adult koala. So, the microorganisms necessary for the processing of poisonous eucalyptus get into the digestive system, namely the intestines.

Pictured is a koala with a cub

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

On average, koalas live for about 14 years. Bears breed once every 1-2 years. Cases have been recorded when a koala lived to be 21 years old. In Russia, the koala can only be found in the zoo. Also, below you can see video about koala.

Koalas are the only animals that have individual fingerprints besides humans. In the course of a scientific study, the fingerprints of a person and a koala were compared, and it turned out that they are quite easy to distinguish, but there are some similarities.

Translated from the language of one of the Australian tribes, "koala" means "do not drink." Koalas almost never drink water: they get all the moisture they need from eucalyptus leaves - their only food. For slow animals, this is very convenient, since they live in trees and it would take them a whole day to descend to the ground to the water.

Eucalyptus trees are the home and dining room of marsupial bears. During the day they sleep, comfortably nestled in the branches, and at night they start eating. Of the 600 species of eucalyptus trees growing in Australia, koalas eat only 2-3 species of foliage. An adult eats more than 500 g of leaves per day.

A common misconception is that koalas get "drunk" on eucalyptus leaves and that's why they sleep so much. Perhaps this myth originated as an attempt to explain why koalas sleep 22 hours a day. In fact, long sleep is a way to conserve energy. Eucalyptus leaves contain toxins and are also very low in calories and fibrous, so digestion requires a lot of energy.

Koala and marsupial flying squirrel are the only mammals that can tolerate the toxins contained in the leaves, but do not get "drunk" from them.

In Australia, to prevent the death of koalas under the wheels of cars, they stretch artificial vines from ropes connecting eucalyptus trees on both sides of the highway. Animals willingly use these bridges.

In the animal world

• Dogs

  Of all the animals, dogs were tamed by man before anyone else. The first domestic dogs appeared about 10 thousand years ago.
• To your pet was healthy and pleased you with his presence for as long as possible, provide your dog with proper nutrition.
• The newlyweds begin to live under one roof and lead a common life, but are not yet ready for the birth of children. The appearance of a four-legged friend in the house will help to overcome the fear of responsibility for the birth of a child.
• The pet supply industry today has a huge amount of commercially produced cat food. Are all the presented foods good for pets and, finally, which food is better for cats?
• Starting a conversation about raising a puppy, I want to advise you first of all: be patient, patient and more patient. If you give in to the little cunning one at least once, he will remember for a long time that the owner can be moved to pity, begged, and, in the end, overstubborn.
• Modern doctors note the role of animals in the home as a positive emotional factor.
• A dog needs a master and his love to be happy. But what does he need for health? We will tell you how to give your friend first aid.
• Before you start training a dog, study its character and habits. A dog must love its owner, trust him.
• Domestication of the dog became one of the stages of "humanization of man", because it saved him from the animal instinct - to listen to the dangerous silence of the night, gave him the opportunity to sleep peacefully and even think.
• The aquarium brings a lot of positive emotions into our lives. Contemplation of this mini-reservoir and its inhabitants helps us to relax, restore peace of mind, get away from the hustle and bustle and tune in to a philosophical mood. If you would like to have a little piece underwater world at home - these tips are for you.
• If you are going to travel with your four-legged friend, take care of a special document in advance - a veterinary passport.
• So, you are tired of hearing every day: "Well, buy-and-and-those dog ..." It's decided! There will be a puppy in the house. But before you get a dog, give yourself a test of strength.
• It seems that a cute fluffy animal should evoke only positive emotions. For this to be true, be patient.
• So you've decided to start an aquarium. Commendable! Watching colorful fish gliding smoothly one after another is such a pleasure!
• Near-water birds, herons and hammerheads, often sit on the heads of hippos and calmly go fishing, and if fishing fails, they peck parasites from their gigantic friends.
• As scientists have found out, female butterflies choose those males that are younger and have not yet had contact with the opposite sex. The wings of such lucky ones glow in the ultraviolet rays much brighter than those of the old people.
• Contrary to popular belief, camels do not have water in their humps, but fat, which helps lower body temperature and protects the animal from overheating. This fat is considered a delicacy in many countries.

• parrots

  In the city of Darwin in Australia, parrots eat the nectar of a plant that causes them to become intoxicated, and fall right on the fly.

• Wolves

  Wolves are pack animals. Each pack consists of several wolf families - a parent pair and a grown up young. All pack behavior is subject to strict discipline and a clear hierarchy.

• frogs

  There are 555 species of real frogs in the world, and their closest relatives are representatives of the copepod frog family, of which about 230 species have survived in nature.

• penguins

  The penguin is the only bird that can swim but cannot fly. Penguins have a rare ability to stand upright due to the fact that their paws with leathery membranes are located at the very end of the body.

• The Bears

  The largest bear that has ever lived on earth is the giant short-beaked bear. It was twice the size of modern bears. Scientists believe that he had very long legs, allowing him to hunt antelopes in the North American prairies.

• owls

  Owls are birds of prey, they feed on mammals, other birds, insects and reptiles. In Africa and Asia, there are species that exclusively eat other birds.

• Dolphins

  Dolphins swim in circles and always watch with one eye so that predators do not sneak up on them. After a certain period of time, they begin to swim in the opposite direction and observe with the other eye.

• Fish

  From water pollution, the sex of the fish can change. Approximately one third of the fish in British territorial waters have changed sex due to pollution caused by sewers.

• The bats

  Bats are one of the few animals that cannot be obese. They have such a fast metabolism that fruits and berries are digested in 20 minutes.

• cats

  It has been proven that cats can distinguish colors, but at the same time they have color blindness, the same as in humans: red seems green to them, and vice versa.
• The slowness of land turtles depends on the ambient temperature: at low temperatures, the movement of turtles slows down. The sex of individuals also depends on temperature: at low temperatures, males appear in the nest, at high temperatures, females.

• Horses

  It is believed that the darker the color, the more enduring the horse. In the Russian cavalry, red horses were considered the most ardent, and black horses were considered the calmest. Gray horses are considered the most vulnerable. And horses with white or fair skin are softer and weaker than dark-skinned ones.

• Chameleons

  The chameleon is able to change the color of the body and even its individual parts, depending on external stimuli - temperature, light, humidity, satiety, thirst, fear.

• Monkeys

  The smallest primate on Earth is considered to be the pygmy marmoset. Its size ranges from 11 to 15 centimeters, excluding the tail, which can reach 22 centimeters in length.

• Birds

  Turkeys can sense weather changes. Before bad weather, they begin to pluck themselves and straighten their feathers. The black swift can stay in the air for 2-4 years. During this time, he drinks, eats and even sleeps on the fly.

• parrots

  Kea are carnivorous parrots that prey on sheep. Despite the fact that Steve Irwin worked with dangerous animals like crocodiles and snakes, he was terribly afraid of parrots.

• Jellyfish

  In Japan, jellyfish are bred in aquariums, as they believe that their smooth and unhurried movements help fight stress. Recently, the Japanese have even invented jellyfish robots that, at the request of the owner, can “dance” to the music.

• All about frogs

  Cocoi frogs living in the jungle South America and Colombia, have been recognized as one of the most poisonous land animals on our planet. The poison of this frog is thousands of times stronger than potassium cyanide and 35 times stronger than the poison of the Central Asian cobra.

• shellfish

  The starfish can feed without swallowing food. For example, when she meets a mollusk, she wraps her arms around it and turns the lower stomach inside out. It penetrates the shell, envelops the soft parts of the mollusk and digests it, and then the star simply draws the contents into itself.

• Kangaroo

  A kangaroo can produce four types of milk, depending on the age of the kangaroo, each type in its own nipple. In addition, a mother kangaroo can have two types of milk at the same time if she has cubs of different ages.

• butterflies

  Most butterflies only live for a few days. The exception is the Monarch butterfly, which can live up to 6 months, in addition, it is able to fly 1000 km without stopping.
• The black swift can stay in the air without landing for 2-4 years: it drinks, eats and sleeps on the fly. Young swifts, having risen into the air for the first time, fly about 500 thousand kilometers.

• The most unusual animals

  The star-nosed mole is more reminiscent of a space alien, since it has a stigma in the form of 22 bare moving tentacles.

• hedgehogs

  The spines and curling up into a ball are the hedgehogs' natural defenses against predators. However, she does not always help them. Some animals have learned to unroll this ball, and the fox, for example, rolls the hedgehog into the water so that it turns around.

• All about sharks.

  Some divers have a pastime - swimming among the sharks, which is safe when a person manages to lull the shark by stroking its head and turning over on its back.

• fauna sounds

  House flies have good hearing. They all buzz in the key of F major. However, they only live for 14 days.

• Fun Facts About Animals

  Death Valley, the driest and hottest place on earth, is home to over 15 bird species, 40 mammal species, 44 reptile species, 12 amphibian species, 13 fish species and 545 plant species.

• Fun Facts About Animals

  If a bat heard its own cry without being reflected, it would go deaf. Therefore, before emitting a cry, the mouse emits a squeak, which causes the muscles of the hearing aid to tense up, and it perceives its loud cry already normally.

• Ticks

  Ticks are the second largest group of animals on our planet after insects, there are about a million species of them. Ticks, unlike insects, have no head, no chest, no abdomen, no wings, and all parts of the body are fused together, and the legs are not 6, but 8.

• hippology

  Among the horses that belonged to historical figures, Bucephalus is the most famous. Bucephalus allowed only Alexander the Great to sit on himself. He lived for 30 years and fell from stress after the battle of the Hydaspes. Alexander built a mausoleum for his horse.

• Misconceptions about animals

  While at the zoo, many are afraid to approach a camel, thinking that these animals spit when they don't like something. However, in a camel, everything is “arranged” in such a way as to conserve moisture, and he will not waste it in vain. If the camel is angry, he does not spit, but kicks and bites.

• All about fish

  In total, there are 20,000 species of fish on Earth - this is about 50% of all modern vertebrates.

• Monkeys

  The behavior of the male of some species of loris is quite interesting: he takes the cubs from the mother and wears them on himself, giving them away only for the time of feeding.

• amazing animals

  The newt, when meeting a female, stands on its head and makes sharp waves with its tail to arouse its location, and the beckoning crab cordially waves its giant right claw.

• All about crocodiles

  If a crocodile crept up to a giraffe at a watering place and grabbed its muzzle, then the giraffe throws up its head and, like a crane, lifts the unfortunate predator above the water.

• These amazing animals

  The needles of the hedgehog are not only a defense against predators, they are also a kind of shock absorber: a fall from the second floor is not dangerous for this mammal.

• header

  In nature, there are about 3 thousand species of cockroaches; their larvae develop from several months (prusak) to 4 years (black cockroach).

• Animals at war

  Back in the years of the First World War, the American physicist Robert Wood proposed using the delicate hearing of seals to detect submarines.

Koala is a small, cute, meek animal that lives on only one continent - Australia. In the Aboriginal language, the word "koala" means "does not drink." The animal really practically does not drink water, being content with the moisture contained in eucalyptus leaves. Its Greek-Latin generic name "Phascolarctos" means "marsupial bear". The koala was indeed 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 belongs to the marsupials, it is the only modern representative of the Koal family (Phascolarctidae).

Today, the koala is Australia's most beloved marsupial, one of the recognized symbols of Australia, but this has not always been the case. The first European settlers destroyed millions of these defenseless animals for the sake of thick fur. However, eucalyptus deforestation, 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 skins were exported. By that time, koalas had disappeared from South Australia and much of Victoria and New South Wales. As a result of public protest, a ban on hunting was introduced starting in 1944, and only after 10 years their population began to gradually recover. Currently, in a number of areas, in particular in the south of the range, the koala has again become a common species, and this animal is listed by the IUCN as causing the 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, rounded, 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 thick and soft fur on the dorsal side varies from gray to reddish-brown; on the chin, chest and inner surface of the forelimbs, the fur is white. The ears are fringed with long white hair, the sacrum is covered with white spots. In the north of the habitat, the fur of the animals is shorter and less frequent.

The body length of a koala is 70-85 cm, weight is 7-12 kg. Males are more massive than females, they have a wider muzzle, and the size of the auricles 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 that opens backwards with two nipples.

The koala is remarkably adapted to 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 provide any shelters or shelters. Large paws are equipped with strongly curved claws, thanks to which the animal can easily climb the highest tree with smooth bark. The photo shows good views of the powerful and strong claws of the koala. If the beast plunges them into a tree, it will not fall down.

Climbing up the eucalyptus, the koala grabs the trunk with strong front paws, moving the body up and at the same time pulling the front limbs. On the hind legs, the first toe is opposed to the rest, the second and third are almost fused. On the front paws, the first and second toes are opposed to the others, providing a firm grip when climbing. The soles of the paws are bare, with a palpar pattern. An interesting fact is that the fingerprints of koalas are almost identical to those of humans.

In total, the koala has 30 teeth, three pairs of incisors and rudimentary fangs are preserved in the upper jaw. The teeth are well adapted to feeding on eucalyptus leaves, which contain a large amount of fiber. The chewed leaves undergo microbial fermentation in the caecum, which is the longest in relation to body length among all mammals (its length is 1.8-2.5 meters).

In the photo, the koala habitually absorbs the leaves of his beloved eucalyptus.

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

Where does the koala live?

Koalas live only in Australia, where they are found on 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 expanses of cleared forests. Koalas have chosen humid mountain forests in the south, vineyards in the north, copses and semi-desert landscapes in western Australia. The density of populations depends on the productivity of the land. In the south, in rainforests, it reaches 8 animals per hectare, and in the semi-desert zone on a plot of 100 hectares, only one individual can live.

How does a koala live in nature?

The life of koalas is closely connected with the 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, 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 slowly absorbing eucalyptus leaves. The movements of the animals are usually very slow, lazy, although a frightened animal is able to move very quickly.

Koalas lead a sedentary lifestyle. Most are singles, they rarely live in pairs. Adult animals occupy certain areas of habitat. Under 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 plot of a male can be more than 100 hectares. The territory of a dominant male can cover the territories of up to 9 females, and also the territories of subordinate males. Each animal has several favorite fodder 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 serve as a constant source of food for koalas. An adult eats about 500 grams of fresh leaves per day, and although more than 600 species of eucalyptus grow on the Green Continent, only 30 of them feed on koala leaves. Preference is given to different regions different types eucalyptus, but mainly 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 poor in nutrients and contain a lot of indigestible fiber, as well as poisonous 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, they get the moisture they need from the leaves they eat. Thus, evolution has given koalas a source of food available all year round and also spared them food competition.

procreation

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

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

The breeding season is in spring and early summer (September-January). At this time, males move over very long distances, and when they meet, skirmishes often occur between them. During "weddings" "grooms" constantly roar. These screams, consisting of loud breaths followed by gurgling exhalations, are meant to attract the attention of brides, as well as warn competitors. The call of one male usually causes a response from nearby relatives. During this period, males often mark the boundaries of their territory by rubbing their chest against trees.

The female brings in a year one litter from one, less often from two cubs. Pregnancy lasts 35 days. The cub at birth is extremely small - its weight is less than 0.5 kg. The newborn climbs into the bag, where it is securely attached to one of the two nipples. In a bag, a small koala spends about 6 months, where it grows and develops. For some time, the mother wears it on her back.

From the age of seven months, the baby switches to eating a special gruel 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 11 months of age, 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 recorded these marsupials, according to unofficial data, their number is from 40 thousand to 1 million. Habitat destruction is the main threat to most koala populations in the northern part of the 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, this problem remains relevant for the agricultural regions of central Queensland.

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Scientists have named one feature of koalas that brings them closer to the human race

Australia is the only place on the planet where this unusual marsupial animal, similar to a teddy bear, lives. The appearance of koalas is unique: a large wide head, on which a large nose clearly stands out, fur-covered ears and small expressive eyes.

Koalas inhabit the eucalyptus forests in the coastal regions of the northeast, east and south of Australia. They spend almost all their lives in the crowns of trees, so his limbs are strong, adapted for climbing. This is also helped by sharp, long claws that easily support the weight of the animal. And these animals also have a resemblance to people, says the Meteovest portal.

Koalas are one of the few mammals, with the exception of primates, that have a papillary pattern on their fingertips. Koala fingerprints are similar to human fingerprints and are difficult to distinguish even with a microscope.

There is still no consensus on what patterns on the fingers are for.

Scientists from the University of Adelaide (Australia), who discovered that fingerprints are similar in humans and koalas, believe that this feature increases the tenacity of the limbs. Koalas feed on eucalyptus leaves and, thanks to the papillary pattern, it is much more convenient to collect such leaves and put them in the mouth. Leaves are also sources of moisture for animals. In the language of the Australian tribes, the name koalas means "do not drink", and they really rarely drink. Koalas take the right amount of water from eucalyptus leaves, which they eat in large quantities, and morning dew or raindrops that accumulate on them.

Due to the low-calorie diet, animals are among the slowest on the planet. They use their precious energy very prudently. During the day they can doze off and sleep up to 20 hours, but at the moment of danger they are able to jump and move quickly, including in the water.

There are other interesting facts. Males meet with partners only during the mating season, and they immediately collect a harem of 2-5 females (fewer males are born). Scientists consider the inviting mating call of the male to be one of the most unromantic, moreover, repulsive: it looks like the snoring of a drunkard, the creaking of a door and the grumbling of a pig. The groom leaves his partner shortly after the birth of the heir. Koalas are essentially loners.

Even in large parents, whose weight is not less than 8 kg, the cub is born as a crumb the size of a bean grain and weighing only 6 - 8 g. It grows up, already being in a well-developed leathery fold located on the mother's stomach and resembling a bag. The baby is there for 6 months, eating mother's milk. Then he moves to the back of the parent. But before switching to adult food, for about a month it feeds on its feces, which are not ordinary excrement, but are “mashed potatoes” from eucalyptus leaves.