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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.