Like humans, koalas have unique fingerprints too! 

Not all animals have fingerprints. But a few have. Can you guess who they are? Well, close human relatives—chimps and gorillas—are easy to come to mind. But there is one that comes as a total surprise. We are talking about the koala. Yes, koalas, the doll-sized marsupials (a species of mammals) that climb trees with babies on their backs in the Australian jungles have  fingerprints that are almost identical to human fingerprints. Like human prints, each individual koala's fingerprint also has a unique pattern.  

Why do we need fingerprints? 

Have you ever wondered what fingerprints do for us? We will tell you. They serve two purposes. First, they aid in grip, allowing us to better hold onto rough surfaces. Second, they allow us to sense and feel the textures and shapes of the things we hold. 

Well, you already know why this is useful for humans. You need to hold on to things all the time, be it a TV remote or a laptop or your books. For koalas too, it’s the same. They grasp branches and tree trunks and fingerprints help them do so. They primarily survive on eucalyptus leaves and their sensitive fingers help them to identify the texture of their meal.  

Fingerprints: A recent development for koalas  

It is not surprising for chimps and gorillas to have fingerprints, since after all, humans evolved from apes. However, koala prints seem to have evolved independently. Scientists say that koalas’ fingertip features developed much more recently in their evolutionary history because most of their close cousins (such as wombats and kangaroos) lack them. 

Also, there are many other animals who may not have fingerprints but they do possess their own unique features to flaunt. For example, cats and dogs have unique whisker patterns. Zebras have distinct stripe arrangements and leopards and spotted dolphins have their own spot patterns. Humpback whales also have unique markings on the underside of their tails. 

Koala facts 

• You can find Koalas in the eucalyptus forests of eastern  Australia. You can spot them by their grey fur, cream-coloured chest and clawed feet. 

• They measure about 60 cm to 85 cm long, and they weigh about 14 kg. 
• Koalas aren’t bears; they are marsupials. Marsupials are animals who have a pouch to carry their young. 
• Do you know that an infant koala is called a joey and it grows and develops in its mother’s pouch?  
• Koalas can sleep for up to 18 hours a day!