The Eight Levels of Classification for Koala Bears

Kingdom, Phylum and Class

• The koala belongs to the Animalia kingdom. Its phylum is chordata, which means that it has a spinal chord. It also has a sub-phylum classification of vertebrata because it has a backbone. The koala's main class is mammalia, or mammal, because it has mammary glands to feed its young. Its subclass is marsupialia, or marsupial, which is the key defining feature of the koala. This classification indicates that its young are not fully developed at birth and need to live and feed in the mother's pouch until they mature, which is usually at about six to seven months.

Order, Family, Genus, Species

• The order follows the class. Koalas belong to the diprotodontia order of mammals. This means that the second and third digits or toes on the hind feet are fused together, although the claws are not. Also, it only has a single pair of incisors in its lower jaw. The koala also belongs to the sub-order of vombatiformes. Koalas and wombats are the only animals that belong to this order. The koala is the sole member of the phascolarctidae family and the genus, phascolarctus. Its species is cinereus. The koalas family and species name refers to the fact that it is an ash grey bear with a pouch. The koala was first given this scientific name in 1816, by John Price, one of the early European colonials.

Common Name and Subspecies

• Its scientific name is phascolarctus cinereus, but its common name is koala. This comes from the Aboriginal language, and means "no drink." The subspecies classifications define types of koalas found in different regions of Australia. According to the Australian Koala Foundation, scientists disagree about whether there are two or three subspecies. The main differences between the subspecies are some physical characteristics. For example, the southern koalas are larger than the hose in the north and have thicker fur, that is more brown than gray. Southern Australia has colder winters than the north, which accounts for this difference.

Koala Facts

• Koalas are not really bears, because they don't belong to the bear family, which is the ursidae. Although the "arctus" in the koala's phascolarctus family name acknowledges it is bear-like. According to the Australian Koala Foundation, it is incorrect to refer to them as koala bears; it is more correct to call them koalas. The foundation says that koalas probably evolved in Australia when it started separating from the Antarctic land mass and researchers have found koala fossil remains dating back 25 million years.