Sleep: Koalas are well known for their ability to sleep up to 20hrs per day due to their low energy diet of leaf. Hearing: Koalas have excellent hearing, which facilitates communication with other koalas over long distances. Camouflage technique: Their speckled rear aids in camouflage amongst the trees. Despite their size, they can be very difficult to see from the ground or by spotlighting. Even skilled koala spotters can only usually see a koala known to be in a tree around 40% of the time. Sense of smell: Their heightened sense of smell helps detect leaf for eating. Koalas can determine the palatability and toxin levels of a leaf by its smell. Protective coat: They have a thick, woolly coat that is equipped to protect them from rain and extreme temperatures. The dorsal (back) fur of the koala is the most insulated of any marsupial found to date, and in the past, was heavily sought after for the fur industry. In cold weather, koalas will curl into a ball with the dorsal fur providing effective insulation from the cold and rain. Cool fun facts Koalas have a mid-opening, slightly backwards facing pouch, a distinctive feature they share with their closest relatives, the wombat. Each koala has a distinctive nose pattern, making it possible to identify them individually from a distance. Koalas have unique fingerprints just like humans. Male koalas sport larger, more pronounced 'Roman' noses, while females have smaller, daintier noses. Koala ear tags are a clue to their rescue history! If a koala has been rescued in the past, you might spot a tag in one of their ears. Females are tagged in their right ear, while males are tagged on their left. 06
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