Phascolarctidae Skull Replica or Koala Male measures 6 inches. Koala Male Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA. Original California Academy of Sciences specimen.
Phascolarctidae or Koalas are herbivorous, and while most of their diet consists of eucalypt leaves, they can be found in trees of other genera, such as Acacia, Allocasuarina, Callitris, Leptospermum, and Melaleuca.
Koalas are asocial animals and spend just 15 minutes a day on social behaviors.
The Koala society appears to consist of “residents” and “transients”, the former being mostly adult females and the latter males. Resident males appear to be territorial and dominate.
The territories of dominant Phascolarctidae or Koala males are found near breeding females, while younger males must wait until they reach full size to challenge for breeding rights.
Adult males occasionally venture outside their home ranges; when they do so, dominant ones retain their status.
As a male climbs a new tree, he rubs his chest against it and sometimes dribs urine. This scent-marking behavior serves as communication, and individuals are known to sniff the bottom a newly found tree.
Adult males communicate with loud bellows or low pitched sounds that being with gravelly, snort-like inspirations and followed by burping, growl-like outbursts. Because of their low frequency, these bellows can travel far through the forest.
Phascolarctidae or Koalas may bellow at any time of the year, particularly during the breeding season, when it serves to attract females and possibly intimidate other males.
They also bellow to advertise their presence to their neighbors when they climb a different tree.
These sounds signal the male’s actual body size, as well as exaggerate it; females pay more attention to bellows that originate from larger males. Female Koalas bellow, though more softly, in addition to making snarls, wails, and screams.
These calls are produced when in distress and when making defensive threats. Squeaking and sqawking are produced when distraught.
Phascolarctidae or Koalas also communicate with facial expressions. When snarling, wailing, or squawking, the animal curls the upper lip and points its ears forward. During screams, the lips and ears are pulled back. Females form an oval shape with their lips when annoyed.
Agonistic behavior typically consists of quarrels between individuals that are trying to pass each other in the tree. This occasionally involves biting. Strangers may wrestle, chase, and bellow at each other.
In extreme situations, a male Phascolarctidae or Koala may try to displace a smaller rival from a tree, chasing, cornering and biting it. Once the individual is driven away, the victor bellows and marks the tree.
Pregnant and lactating females are particularly aggressive and attack individuals that come too close. In general, however, Koalas tend to avoid fighting due to energy costs.
