Editing Koala (section)

===Foraging and activities===
[[File:Koala eating.jpg|thumb|left|Foraging]]
Koalas are herbivorous, and while most of their diet consists of [[eucalypt]] leaves, they can be found in trees of other genera, such as ''[[Acacia]]'', ''[[Allocasuarina]]'', ''[[Callitris]]'', ''[[Leptospermum]]'', and ''[[Melaleuca]]''.<ref name=jackson/>{{rp|73}} Though the foliage of over 600 species of ''Eucalyptus'' is available, the koala shows a strong preference for around 30.<ref name="Macdonald">{{cite book|author=Martin, R.|year=2001|contribution=Koala|title=Encyclopedia of Mammals|editor=Macdonald, D.|publisher=Oxford University Press|edition=2nd|pages=852–854|isbn=978-0-7607-1969-5}}</ref> They prefer plant matter with higher [[Protein (nutrient)|protein]] than fibre and [[lignin]].<ref name="Tyndale-Biscoe"/>{{rp|231}} The most favoured species are ''[[Eucalyptus microcorys]]'', ''[[Eucalyptus tereticornis|E.&nbsp;tereticornis]]'', and ''[[Eucalyptus camaldulensis|E.&nbsp;camaldulensis]]'', which, on average, make up more than 20% of their diet.<ref name="Osawa 1993">{{cite journal |author=Osawa, R. |title=Dietary preferences of Koalas, ''Phascolarctos cinereus'' (Marsupiala: Phascolarctidae) for ''Eucalyptus'' spp. with a specific reference to their simple sugar contents |journal=Australian Mammalogy |url={{google books|plainurl=yes|id=RF-PjvKUo3AC|page=87}} |volume=16 |issue=1 |year=1993 |pages=85–88 |doi=10.1071/AM93020 |s2cid=239130362 |access-date=9 November 2015 |archive-date=24 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424110434/https://books.google.com/books?id=RF-PjvKUo3AC&pg=PA87 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite its reputation as a picky eater, the koala is more generalist than some other marsupial species, such as the [[greater glider]]. The koala does not need to drink often as it can get enough water from the leaves,<ref name=jackson/>{{rp|73–74}} though larger males may additionally drink water found on the ground or in tree hollows.<ref name="Tyndale-Biscoe"/>{{rp|231}} When feeding, a koala reaches out to grab leaves with one forepaw while the other paws hang on to the branch. Depending on the size of the individual, a koala can walk to the end of a branch or must stay near the base.<ref name=jackson/>{{rp|96}} Each day, koalas eat up to {{convert|400|g}} of leaves, spread over four to six feeding periods.<ref name=moyal/>{{rp|187}} Despite their adaptations to a low-energy lifestyle, they have meagre fat reserves.<ref name=moyal/>{{rp|189}}

Their low-energy diet limits their activity and they sleep 20 hours a day.<ref name=jackson/>{{rp|93}}<ref name="Grand 2001">{{cite journal |author1=Grand, T. I. |author2=Barboza, P. S. |title=Anatomy and development of the koala, ''Phascolarctos cinereus'': An evolutionary perspective on the superfamily Vombatoidea |journal=Anatomy and Embryology |year=2001 |volume=203 |issue=3 |pages=211–223 |doi=10.1007/s004290000153 |pmid=11303907|s2cid=11662113 }}</ref> They are predominantly active at night and spend most of their waking hours foraging. They typically eat and sleep in the same tree, possibly for as long as a day.<ref name="Martin-Handasyde"/>{{rp|39}} On warm days, a koala may rest with its back against a branch or lie down with its limbs dangling.<ref name=jackson/>{{rp|93–94}} When it gets hot, the koala rests lower in the canopy and near the trunk, where the surface is cooler than the surrounding air.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Briscoe|first1=N. J.|last2=Handasyde|first2=K. A.|last3=Griffiths|first3=S. R.|last4=Porter|first4=W. P.|last5=Krockenberger|first5=A|last6=Kearney|first6=M. R.|year=2014|title=Tree-hugging koalas demonstrate a novel thermoregulatory mechanism for arboreal mammals|journal=Biology Letters|volume=10 |issue=6 |doi=10.1098/rsbl.2014.0235|pmid=24899683 |pmc=4090547 }}</ref> It curls up when it gets cold and wet.<ref name="Martin-Handasyde"/>{{rp|39}} It resorts to a lower, thicker, branch during high winds. While it spends most of the time in the tree, the animal descends to the ground to move to another tree, with either a walking or leaping gait.<ref name=jackson/>{{rp|93–94}} The koala usually grooms itself with its hind paws, with their double claws, but it sometimes uses its forepaws or mouth.<ref name=jackson/>{{rp|97–98}}