Roly-poly and endearing, koalas are small, stocky, tree-dwelling marsupials which weigh anywhere from 5 kilograms to 14 kilograms, depending on sex and region. Females are smaller than males and koalas from the northern part of the species’ range are notably smaller than those from the south.

A thick layer of grey or greyish brown fur covers a koala, giving them a look similar to a plush toy. A large black nose with a keen sense of smell decorates the animal’s face, and its short, muscular limbs end in relatively large paws with two or three opposed digits. Koalas have fingerprints, which are almost impossible to tell apart from human prints. [...]