Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Museums

Regional Maps

Family PHASCOLARCTIDAE


Compiler and date details

October 2010 - Updated by Stephen M. Jackson, c/- Queensland Museum, Brisbane, following Van Dyck & Strahan (2008)

31 December 1998 - G.M. McKay (1988); updated by Barry J. Richardson (1999), Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, NSW, Australia

Introduction

The koala, distinguished by its selenodont molars, strongly forcipate manus and greatly reduced tail, undoubtedly rivals "the kangaroo" as Australia's most popularized mammal. Koala biology was the subject of two recent symposia (Bergin 1978; Lee et al. 1991) which covered all aspects from anatomy and phylogeny to captive maintenance. More recent work on nutrition is summarised by Hume (1982).

Three subspecies of koala have been described, but as variation is latitudinal and apparently clinal these are treated in this work merely as synonyms.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
29-Oct-2010 29-Oct-2010 MOVED
12-Feb-2010 (import)