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What do koalas eat and why?

Updated: 10/8/2023
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12y ago

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Koalas feed by climbing certain species of eucalyptus trees which are their favoured types. They reach out to grab leaves (and occasionally, eucalyptus blossoms) with their paws, which have opposable thumbs and enable them to grip their food.

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6y ago
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10y ago

Koalas eat the leaves of the Eucalyptus tree. This is fascinating since the leaves have almost no nutritive value, and the oils in the Eucalyptus are highly volatile and toxic. Koalas have adapted to them as food, and content to graze on them all the time, along with the occasional gum blossom.

Eucalyptus leaves are typically long and narrow, slightly leathery in texture, and olive-green in colour, with a paler underside. An image of a koala eating eucalyptus leaves can be seen at the related link below.

While there are hundreds of different eucalyptus species in Australia, koalas eat from only about 60 of the species, consuming about half a kilogram of eucalyptus leaves every day. Koalas are selective about the types of eucalyptus they eat, feeding on just 14 species as their primary food source, specifically, the subgenusSymphyomyrphus. Preferred eucalyptus species vary depending on their locality, so that the species eaten by Victoria koalas will be different to those eaten by north Queensland koalas. Koalas have been known to also eat the buds, flowers and bark of these particular species, while dirt also seems to supplement mineral deficiencies. Koalas have been seen feeding in eucalypt trees such as Manna Gum, Swamp Gum, Blue Gum, Forest Red Gum and Grey Gum.

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12y ago

Koalas are herbivorous, living almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves. These leaves supply them with most of the water they need, although they have been observed drinking water as well. They also occasionally eat the gum tree blossoms.

Eucalyptus leaves are tough, toxic and low in nutrition, but the koala's digestive system is capable of removing the toxins, filtering them out by the liver. The caecum completes the process by changing the eucalyptus leaves into digestible nutrients. The caecum is similar to the human appendix.

Baby koalas, called joeys, drink mother's milk during their first 6-7 months of life. After 30 weeks, the mother produces a substance called pap. This substance is actually a specialised form of the mother's droppings which, having passed through her digestive system, give the joey the enzymes it needs to be able to start digesting the tough gum leaves, making an easier transition for the baby koala to start eating eucalyptus leaves.

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12y ago

Koalas live in eucalyptus trees and eat only a few types of gum leaves from which they get all nutrients and water requirements. They also occasionally eat the gum tree blossoms.

While there are hundreds of different eucalyptus species in Australia, koalas eat from only about 60 of the species, consuming about half a kilogram of eucalyptus leaves every day. Koalas will not eat all types of eucalyptus, feeding on just 14 species as their primary food source, specifically, the subgenus Symphyomyrphus. Preferred eucalyptus species vary depending on their locality, so that the species eaten by Victoria koalas will be different to those eaten by north Queensland koalas. Koalas have been known to also eat the buds, flowers and bark of these particular species, while dirt also seems to supplement mineral deficiencies. Koalas have been seen feeding in eucalypt trees such as Manna Gum, Swamp Gum, Blue Gum, Forest Red Gum and Grey Gum.

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10y ago

Koalas feed almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves. They live in eucalyptus trees and eat only a few types of gum leaves from which they get all nutrients and water requirements. They also occasionally eat the gum tree blossoms. Two of the koala's digits on their forelimbs act as opposable thumbs, enabling koalas to reach out and grasp the leaves they want.

While there are hundreds of different eucalyptus species in Australia, koalas eat from only about 60 of the species, consuming about half a kilogram of eucalyptus leaves every day. Koalas will not eat all types of eucalyptus, feeding on just 14 species as their primary food source, specifically, the subgenus Symphyomyrphus. Preferred eucalyptus species vary depending on their locality, so that the species eaten by Victoria koalas will be different to those eaten by north Queensland koalas. Koalas have been known to also eat the buds, flowers and bark of these particular species, while dirt also seems to supplement mineral deficiencies. Koalas have been seen feeding in eucalypt trees such as Manna Gum, Swamp Gum, Blue Gum, Forest Red Gum and Grey Gum

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11y ago

Koalas feed by climbing certain species of eucalyptus trees which are their favoured types. They reach out to grab leaves (and occasionally, eucalyptus blossoms) with their paws, which have opposable thumbs and enable them to grip their food.

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Who gets the most food when Koalas eat?

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Koalas in South Australia eat what koalas elsewhere in Australia eat. Koalas eat from specific types s of eucalyptus, feeding on just 14 species as their primary food source, specifically, the subgenus Symphyomyrphus.


What type of consumer do Koalas eat?

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