Sleeping Postures of Koalas

Koalas exhibit a lot of sleeping postures which also reveals a lot about their day to day behavior. Since; koalas sleep most of the time at day and night (more than 20 hours sleeping cycle), therefore; it is very common for koalas to exhibit many sleeping postures while sleeping. However; according to the koala researchers each and every sleeping posture of koala comes within particular behavioral context and does indicate their current feelings as well.

Koalas sleep with wide variety of postures. Each and every sleeping posture about koalas reveals a lot about their behavior and internal body condition.

Therefore; the koala researchers have categorized different sleeping postures on the basis of weather variation, distress level, health and body temperature regulation etc. The koala observers have identified as many as half a dozen key sleeping postures of koalas. This article explores various sleeping postures of koalas and reveals key secrets about their each and every posture. Some of their sleeping postures make them look very cute while others do make thing look sluggish as the sloth-like creature.

The sleeping postures of koalas are divided into two categories. Since; koalas are arboreal animals, therefore; their first and the most common sleeping postures of koalas can be observed on the trees and these postures have been observed in greater numbers and variations (5 or 6 key positions on trees).

Koalas' sleeping postures can be divided into two categories i.e., sleeping postures on trees and on the ground.

On the other hand; the second type of sleeping postures within koalas have been observed on the ground. However; the sleeping postures of koalas on the ground are relatively rare along with very few variations (one or two) have been observed within them.

One of the most common sleeping and sitting posture of koalas is to sleep or sit in between the tree fork. Sleeping on the tree fork is also one of the favorite sleeping or resting posture of koalas. Moreover; it is also considered as the trademark resting posture of koalas. Most zoos and animal sanctuaries having koalas always make sure that the Eucalyptus trees within the koala enclosures have fork shapes.

Sleeping or resting on the tree fork of the Eucalyptus trees is the most favorite sleeping posture of koalas. This sleeping posture helps koalas to maintain their body balance.

This kind of a sleeping postures allow koalas to maintain the perfect balance and avoids any chances of falling or lurking down a tree. Furthermore; this posture allows koalas to save as much body energy as possible as they have to put in minimum effort to maintain their balance. Lastly; this sleeping posture also indicates that a koala is feeling relaxed and confident.

As mentioned earlier; most of the other sleeping postures of koalas are also weather dependent as well. For example; the sleeping postures during the winter seasons are different than that of the summer seasons. Researchers have observed that during the winter season koalas prefer to sleep in a hunched sleeping posture.

During the winter seasons; koalas prefer to have a hunched sleeping posture which helps them to conserve its body energy and maintain its body temperature as well.

This kind of the sleeping posture helps koalas to not only conserve their energy levels but also their body temperatures as well. A koala may exhibit hunched sleeping posture on the tree fork or on the horizontal branch of the Eucalyptus trees as well. A koala with a hunched sleeping posture on the tree fork usually leans forward.

Similarly; another key sleeping posture of koalas is commonly observed during the strong winds or storms. During the storms, koalas usually prefer the lower thicker branches of the Eucalyptus trees. These branches directly emerge from the main trunk of the Eucalyptus tree. Furthermore; the movement of the lower branches is relatively steady and stable as compared to the upper branches during the windy days.

During the windy days or in storms, koalas usually prefer to sleep on the lower and stronger branches of trees. They also sleep with a posture that exhibits strong grabbing of branches with the help of their claws. This helps them against falling down of trees.

This strategy allows koalas to sit, rest and even sleep for long very comfortably even in the case of a storm. However; koalas do make sure to grab the tree branches with its claws to avoid any chances of falling down from trees. There can either be a fork of the Eucalyptus tree (koalas' favorite location) or an L-Key shape branch which koalas grab strongly while ignoring the severity of the strong winds or storms.

In the case of the extremely hot weather, koalas preferably avoid staying on trees and sleep on the ground. This happens rarely and only during the peak temperatures. The temperature during the summer seasons exceed 40 degree Celsius in the koala regions. Therefore; during the hot weather koalas seek tree shades and they are also seen resting or sleeping on the ground.

During the hot summers; koalas sleep on the ground. They sleep in the shade and preferably lay down their chest facing the ground. Koalas in summer also sleep in a sitting posture with the support of the tree trunk.

Koalas either put their chest towards the ground and lay down on the ground or sit on the hind leg positions with a support of tree trunk. However; koalas on the ground are extremely vulnerable to dingoes and dog attacks. Therefore; as soon as the temperature drops, they again preferably climb up the Eucalyptus trees for safety.