Koalas are one of the few animals other than humans that have fingerprints. In fact, their fingerprints are so similar to those of humans that it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a koala fingerprint and a human fingerprint, even when viewed with an electron microscope. Other animals with fingerprints include gorillas and chimpanzees, as well as the North American fisher, a weasel-like mammal.
More facts about koalas:
- Their common nickname of "koala bear" is actually a misnomer. Koalas are marsupials, which makes them more like kangaroos than bears.
- A koala's brain is extremely small for the size of its head. In fact, almost half of the koala's cranial cavity is filled with liquid. The two halves of the koala's brain, which are described as looking like "shriveled walnut halves," do not touch each other or the skull.
- Koalas have extremely slow metabolisms, and they sleep 16-18 hours a day. Out of their five or so active hours of the day, three of them are spent eating.