koalahead.gif (7365 bytes)The sequence of koalas in the fossil record:       

pawgrn.gif (121 bytes) 15 million years ago: Perikoala Palankarinnica
pawgrn.gif (121 bytes) 10 million years ago:  Litokoala Kutjamarpensis
pawgrn.gif (121 bytes) 5  million years ago:  Koobor notabilis and Koobor jimbarratti
pawgrn.gif (121 bytes) 0  million years ago:  Phastcolarctos cinereus & Phastcolarctos stirtoni

                         

twokoala.jpg (14557 bytes)

pawgrn.gif (121 bytes)  1798, January 26: The 1st record of a koala being seen by a European, named John Price.
 pawgrn.gif (121 bytes) 1803, August 21: The 1st detailed account of a koala was published in Sydney
      Gazette.
 pawgrn.gif (121 bytes) 1816: the French naturalist de Blainwill gave the koala it's scientific name Phascolarctos,
from the Greek words for "leather pouch" and "bear". Later, the German naturalists Goldfuss
gave it the specific name cinereus, meaning "ash colored", after the color of the original specimen.

 

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