Koalas & Fluffy ears

One of the cutest attributes of koalas include their fluffy ears. Their fluffy ears are loved by many people all over the world. In fact; the fluffy ears of koalas along with the dominant nose serve as their key recognizing features of koalas. Many researchers believe that koalas possess the fluffiest ears of all the mammals within the animal kingdom.

Koalas are recognized for their fluffy ears and the dominant nose. Koalas most probably have the fluffiest ears of all mammals.

Koalas usually have thick layer of hair around their ears which allow their ears to be very fluffy to touch. Furthermore; koalas also have extra skin around their ear which further makes their ears to be fluffy and it also grows more hair. This article compiles all the key and interesting features about the fluffy ears of koalas.

Koalas' Ears are
Very Fluffy Researchers Believe
Koalas Ears are Fluffiest Koalas' Ears Serve as
Core Recognizing Features Koalas' Ears Possess
Thick Soft Skin along with Fur

The presence of the fluffy ears within koalas also varies depending upon the type of koalas. As a rule of thumb, the further south you go at the Australian koala regions, their fur and ears become fluffier and fluffier. On the other hand; the further north you go within the koala regions of Australia, the less fluffy their fur and ears become.

Victorian koalas or Brown koalas have more fluffy ears as compared to the Queensland or Grey koalas.

In other words; the Victorian koalas which are also called the Brown koalas are fluffier than the Queensland koalas which are also called the Grey koalas. Victorian koalas have thickest fur and more fluffy ears because of the colder climates while the Queensland koalas have thin fur yet still fluffy ears (though less fluffy) because of hotter climates.

Victorian Koalas
Fluffiest Ears Queensland Koalas
Less Fluffy Ears

The best part about these fluffy ears of koalas is that they are relatively bigger in size. A very important fact about the koalas’ ears is that they are also one of the biggest ears (in proportion to their body mass) within the animal kingdom and most probably the biggest of all the arboreal animals. Furthermore; a koala-sized bear cub has relatively shorter ears as compared to the ears’ size of a normal koala.

The bigger size of koala ears also makes their ears to appear more and more fluffier. The inner edges of the koala ears have long white-colored hair which further make their ears to be very fluffy.

Despite the fact that the koalas’ outer fur on ears appears to be very fluffy, the inner sides of the koalas’ ears do not have any hair at all. A pink-colored skin is visible from the inside area of the koala ears. However; on the inner border of their ears, long white-colored hair can be seen which further boosts the fluffiness of koalas’ ears.

Koalas Ears are
Very Big in Size Koalas have Biggest
Ears of all Arboreals Inner Ears
Do not have Fur or hair Inner Ear Edges
Long White-Colored Hair

The koalas’ fluffy ears not only look cute and adorable but they are also equipped with pretty good sense of hearing. Koalas are usually aware of their surroundings either through their ears (sense of hearing) or through their nose (sense of smell). This further means that the koalas’ fluffy ears also help koalas to communicate with one another by hearing each other’s vocalization.

The fluffy ears of koalas are also equipped with a very good sense of hearing which helps them in knowing about their surroundings and also in communicating with one another.

For example, the mother koalas hear about their young ones if they are in trouble while the dominant male koalas create vocalization of dominance to be heard by the younger koalas to stay away from their region. Similarly; the male and female koalas vocalize during the mating season to locate each other.

Koalas' Fluffy Ears have
Good Sense of Hearing Koalas Ears help them
To Communicate Each other Male Koalas have
Bigger Ears than Female Koalas

The koalas’ fluffy ears and their movements also explain couple of key expressions and behaviors about koalas. Most commonly, koalas are known to move their fluffy ears as pricked forward, raised upward and retracted backwards etc.

Koalas fluffy ears also make the specific kind of movements and each of these movements represents particular behaviors about koalas i.e., scared and aggressive etc.

Each of these movements within the fluffy ears of koalas explains particular expression or behavior about koalas. For example; in the first expression when the koalas’ ears are pricked forward, it is usually the sign of koalas being snarled or quailed. Any threatened koala or a koala in distress or pain etc. will prick forward its ear and may also growl as well.

Koalas also Communicate Via
Movement of Ears Koalas Prick Ears Forward
Koalas Riase Ears upwards Koalas Retract Ears Backwards
Koalas Move Ear Sideways

Sometimes koalas raise their fluffy ears upwards. This kind of behavior is mostly common within the female koalas and this expression represents an agitated koala. An alert koala (in the case of loud noise etc.) also raises its ears upwards.

Koalas with their fluffy ears raised upwards are the agitated koalas while koalas with their ears retracted backwards are usually the mournful koalas or koalas in grief.

Similarly; a koala with its ears backwards also displays a specific behavior and they usually practice this kind of behavior when they are screaming, in trouble or female koalas are in grief after losing their joeys etc. Lastly; a koala with intestinal issues also flicks its fluffy ears and often changes its position from time to time.