The koala is a marsupial from the family Phascolarctidae. It is the only extant representative of its family and its closest living relatives are the wombats. The koala is found in coastal areas of eastern and southern Australia, from Queensland to South Australia. It is easily recognised by its stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb).
The koala is a marsupial that is native to Australia. The earliest recorded sighting of a koala was in 1798, by European explorer George Bass. Bass noted that the koala was a "nocturnal animal, seldom seen" and that it lived in trees.
The first scientific description of the koala was published in 1816 by French naturalist Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville. Ducrotay de Blainville noted that the koala was a marsupial with a pouch, and he gave it the scientific name Phascolarctos cinereus.
The word "koala" comes from the Aboriginal Australian word for "no drink". This is because koalas get most of the moisture they need from the eucalyptus leaves they eat.
Koalas were hunted for their fur until the early 20th century, when they became protected by law. Today, the biggest threat to koalas is habitat loss due to urbanization and deforestation.
