The
koala (
Phascolarctos cinereus, or, inaccurately,
koala bear) is an
arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to
Australia. It is the only
extant representative of the family
Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the
wombats. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting
Queensland,
New South Wales,
Victoria, and
South Australia. It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of and weighs .
Pelage colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than their counterparts further south. These populations possibly are separate
subspecies, but this is disputed.