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October 12, 2026 Fact of the Day Mammals Koala bears aren’t bears. By Bennett Kleinman What do strawberries, the Hundred Years’ War, and koala bears share in common? They’re all misnomers, which is a term for names that are factually inaccurate. In the case of koalas, they aren’t bears at all, but rather marsupials — animals that give birth to underdeveloped young that are carried in pouches (think wombats, kangaroos, etc.). Bears belong to a separate group known as placental mammals, whose young are fully developed in the womb. The reason koalas are erroneously referred to as “bears” dates back to English settlers in the 18th century who didn’t know any better. Upon arriving in Australia, the settlers came upon an unfamiliar creature they thought looked like a small gray bear with a pouch. They gave it the name Phascolarctos cinereus, derived from the Greek meaning “ash-gray pouched bear.” Though the name was later determined to be scientifically inaccurate, the “bear” moniker stuck. Think you know your Australian wildlife? Today's Question How long does a koala joey stay in its mom’s pouch after birth? 48 Hours 2 Weeks 1 Year 6 Months Keep Exploring Mammals Why Do Baby Koalas Eat Poop? Mammals What Do Adult Koalas Eat? Mammals How Fast Can Bears Run? Was this email forwarded to you? Sign Up Advertise Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use 325 North LaSalle Street, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60654 If you'd like to unsubscribe from all Animal Facts emails, click here.