How are Koalas alive? (arboreal survival) - Printable Version +- Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum (https://www.scivillage.com) +-- Forum: Culture (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-49.html) +--- Forum: Survivalism (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-134.html) +--- Thread: How are Koalas alive? (arboreal survival) (/thread-10626.html) |
How are Koalas alive? (arboreal survival) - C C - Jul 13, 2021 INTRO: Koalas are pretty darn cute, but...they aren’t the brightest bulb on the continent. They will only eat eucalyptus leaves off the branch [which are toxic and low in nutritious value]. On a plate, a koala won’t recognize their one and only food. Yet, somehow, koalas are still alive. And it's all thanks to some pretty clever adaptations. RE: How are Koalas alive? (arboreal survival) - Zinjanthropos - Jul 14, 2021 Sounds like they’re doomed. Hundred years or so from now there’ll be a photo of last koala in captivity. One question, why hasn’t the eucalyptus evolved to deter koalas? Part of me thinks the tree derives some benefit from koala munching. RE: How are Koalas alive? (arboreal survival) - Syne - Jul 14, 2021 The eucalyptus toxicity was probably a defense mechanism, but koalas won that evolutionary arms race. They also probably evolved to see food on the ground as inherently dangerous, due to exposure to predators. |