How does a Koala regulate its Body Temperature?

Koalas perfectly regulate their body temperatures to resist the extremities of the Australian weather. Remember; koalas are always low in terms of their body energy and this energy is never sufficient against the extremities of the weather. Even worst the temperature during the summer season reaches almost 50 degrees Celsius and koalas have to cope with such weather. Yet still; it seems like the temperature toll has hardly impacted the koalas’ life and its survival in Australia.

Koalas have the core ability (Body Mechanisms) to regulate their body temperatures which helps them to survive against the harshest weathers of Australia.

But how does a koala regulate its body temperature? Over the span of millions of years, koalas have developed, evolved and learned special mechanisms which help them to maintain and regulate their body temperatures. This article highlights all such mechanisms which koalas undertake and practice to regulate their body temperatures.

Koalas can Regulate
Their Body Temperature
Australian Weather is
Full of Extremities
Summer Temperatures are
Very High for Koalas
Koalas can Withstand
Extremely Hot Temperatures
Koalas can Bear
Colder Climates

Koalas can regulate their body temperature very easily.
Koalas adapt various mechanisms to maintain and regulate their body temperature. Koalas can also withstand against the harsh temperatures of the Australian continent. Photo courtesy of  

The first and very important mechanism for koalas in regulating their body temperatures involves their specialized fur. According to researchers, the koalas’ fur act as an insulator and it minimizes the impact of the outer environmental temperature on the internal body temperature of koalas.

Koalas have specialized fur which acts as an insulator and protects koalas against the severe impacts of hot and cold weathers of Australia. Koalas’ fur also reflects solar radiation.

Therefore; the koalas’ fur is fully capable of protecting koalas against all the harmful impacts of heat and cold. Biologists believe that koalas have the most insulative fur of all the marsupial mammals across the continent of Australia. Furthermore; it has been scientifically observed that the koalas’ fur has the ability to reflect solar radiation which also helps koalas against the hot weather.

Koalas Regulate Body Temperature
Through Specialized Fur
Koalas' Fur
Acts as an Insulator
Koalas Possess
Most Insulative Fur of all Mammals
Koalas Fur can
Withstand Solar Radiations

Koalas regulate their body temperatures through specialized fur.
Koalas have the key ability to regulate their body temperature with the help of their specialized fur. Their fur acts like an insulator, therefore; an external cold or heat may hardly create trouble for them. Photo courtesy of 

Another fundamental mechanism which koalas utilize in regulating their body temperatures involves their sitting and sleeping postures. The koala researchers believe that choosing a specific laying down posture for either resting or sleeping helps koalas to regulate their body temperatures. As many as 8 koala postures have been identified and classified as the resting positions of koalas.

During the hot summers, koalas sit on their back and their stomach face the sky. This posture helps koalas to regulate their body temperature and emit heat from their bodies.

Amongst all of these postures, the posture in which a koala lays on its back and exposes its stomach towards the sky to emit heat from their bodies helps it to emit heat from its body. Koalas fur on their back is very thick but very thin at the front (especially on stomach area) and from this thin area they skip extra body heat and regulate the normal body temperature.

Koalas' Sleeping Posture
Helps them in Regulating Body Temperature
Koalas Sleep & Rest
With 8 Key Sleeping Postures
Koalas Lay on their Back (Summers)
While Their Stomach Faces Sky

Koalas' sleeping postures also help them to regulate body temperature.
Koalas' sleeping postures also help them to regulate their body temperature. Koalas sleep with at least 8 different kinds of postures. Photo courtesy of 

Apart from choosing a specific resting posture and possessing an insulating fur, koalas also regulate their body temperatures by eating the Eucalyptus leaves that are higher in either phellandrene or cineole. The preference of koalas to either choose phellandrene or cineole is weather specific. For example; during the hot summers, koalas eat the Eucalyptus leaves that are higher in cineole.

In summers; koalas eat the Eucalyptus leaves that contain higher contents of cineole to decrease and regulate their body temperature.
In winters; koalas eat the Eucalyptus leaves that contain higher contents of phellandrene to increase and regulate their body temperature.

Cineole within the Eucalyptus leaves help koalas to lower down their body temperature. Similarly; during the severe winters, koalas eat the Eucalyptus leaves that are higher in phellandrene to increase their body temperature. Koalas possess such a specialized sense of smell that it helps them identify the phellandrene or cineole enriched Eucalyptus leaves.

Koalas Eat Specific Eucalyptus Leaves
To Regulate their Body Temperature
In Summers Koalas Eat Leaves
Containing high Cineole contents
In Winters Koalas Eat Leaves
Having more Phellandrene Contents

Koalas also eat specific Eucalyptus leaves to regulate their body temperature.
During the summer and winter seasons, koalas choose specific Eucalyptus leaves to regulate their body temperature. Photo courtesy of  

Another fundamental mechanism which koalas utilize in regulating their body temperatures involves their sitting and sleeping postures. The koala researchers believe that choosing a specific laying down posture for either resting or sleeping helps koalas to regulate their body temperatures. As many as 8 koala postures have been identified and classified as the resting positions of koalas.

During the hot summers, koalas sit on their back and their stomach face the sky. This posture helps koalas to regulate their body temperature and emit heat from their bodies.

Amongst all of these postures, the posture in which a koala lays on its back and exposes its stomach towards the sky to emit heat from their bodies helps it to emit heat from its body. Koalas fur on their back is very thick but very thin at the front (especially on stomach area) and from this thin area they skip extra body heat and regulate the normal body temperature.

During the Rainy Season
Koalas' Fur help in Regulating Body Temperature
Rain Never Let's Koalas
To Get Drenched in Rainy Season
Koalas' Fur has Special Oils
Which Gets Rid of Rain Water very Quickly

Koalas' fur also help them to regulate body temperatures during the rainy season as well.
During the rainy season, the koalas' fur plays a key role in regulating the body temperature of koalas. Koalas' fur never lets koalas to get drenched. Photo courtesy of  

Mild fluctuations within the koalas’ body temperature have been witnessed during the extreme summer or winter seasons. Koalas normally maintain a body temperature of around 35.5 to 36.5 degrees centigrade. However; during the peak summer seasons, when temperature reaches more than 40 degrees Celsius, koalas maintain a body temperature of 37 degrees centigrade which is half a degree higher than their normal body temperature.

Koalas normally maintain a body temperature of 35 to 36 degrees Celsius. However; during the peak summer seasons koalas body temperatures can reach 37 degrees Celsius as well.

Similarly; during the peak winter seasons, koalas either maintain a body temperature of 35 or 35.5 degree Celsius. These mild fluctuations within the body temperature of koalas also explains the adaptability of koalas according to different situations.

Normal Body Temperature of Koalas
35.5 to 36.5 Degrees Celsius
Koalas' Body Temperature in Summers
37 Degrees Celsius
Koalas' Body Temperature in Winters
35.5 Degrees Celsius

Koalas' normal body temperature is around 36.5 degrees Celsius.
Koalas normally maintain a body temperature of 35.5 to 36.5 degrees Celsius. Photo courtesy of