# How many of you realize that koalas are not bears? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 10, 2021, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764 "2021-05-10T15:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/21 "2021-05-10T17:29:32Z")
The taxonomic status of our animals is being supernaturally changed as I type this. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/22 "2021-05-10T17:31:11Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > But, but. . . aren’t those you listed the actual names? I mean, obviously not their _scientific name_ , but, for instance, aren’t sea lions always called “sea lions”? It’s official enough that Encyclopedia Britannica lists them as “Koala, also called Koala Bear” and autosuggests “Koala Bear” when you type in koala in the search. > **[Koala | Appearance, Diet, Habitat, & Facts](https://www.britannica.com/animal/koala)** > > Koala, tree-dwelling marsupial of coastal eastern and southern Australia. It is about 60 to 85 cm (24 to 33 inches) long and weighs up to 14 kg (31 pounds) in the southern part of its range but only about half that in the northern part. It resembles... ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/23 "2021-05-10T17:34:27Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Pandas are more closely related to raccoons. If one of them gets in through the doggie door for kibble late at night, you’ll know it. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > That’s the old and incorrect science, IIRC. Now scientists have learned through DNA that pandas are another type of bear, not part of a different family. Here – have a few ursid cladograms: > **[Bear | Phylogeny](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear#Phylogeny)** > > The relationship of the bear family with other carnivorans is shown in the following phylogenetic tree, which is based on the molecular phylogenetic analysis of six genes in Flynn (2005) with the musteloids updated following the multigene analysis of Law et al. (2018). > .mw-parser-output table.clade{border-spacing:0;margin:0;font-size:100%;line-height:100%;border-collapse:separate;width:auto}.mw-parser-output table.clade table.clade{width:100%;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output table.cl ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/24 "2021-05-10T17:47:41Z")
As long as we’re on the subject, can somebody clear up the difference between brown bears and grizzly bears for me? I don’t understand if they are just two different names for the same thing, two distinct species, two distinct sets of species, or if one is a subset of the other. Wikipedia isn’t helping: > The grizzly bear, also known as the North American brown bear or simply grizzly , is a population or subspecies of the brown bear inhabiting North America. > In addition to the mainland grizzly, other morphological forms of brown bear in North America are sometimes identified as grizzly bears. > In North America, the populations of brown bears are called grizzly bears. I grew up in an area where we had black bears and we avoided all this confusion. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/25 "2021-05-10T17:48:05Z")
They don’t look like a bear, they look like Theodore Roosevelt. That brings up water bears. > **[Tardigrade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > Tardigrades (/ˈtɑːrdɪˌɡreɪdz/), known colloquially as water bears or moss piglets, are a phylum of eight-legged segmented micro-animals. They were first described by the German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze in 1773, who called them Kleiner Wasserbär ("little water bear"). In 1777, the Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani named them Tardigrada (/tɑːrˈdɪɡrədə/), which means "slow steppers". > They have been found in diverse regions of Eart... ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/26 "2021-05-10T18:00:16Z")
I’m still struggling with the fact that Tasmanian Devils are a real animal. [![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3VBgvkQx1ME/T9S2nJe8AQI/AAAAAAAAEm8/PsdH7iqBZgc/s1600/disney_tasmanian_devil_wallpaper_5.jpg) ](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3VBgvkQx1ME/T9S2nJe8AQI/AAAAAAAAEm8/PsdH7iqBZgc/s1600/disney_tasmanian_devil_wallpaper_5.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![FastDan1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fastdan1/32/427_2.png) [@FastDan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FastDan1)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/27 "2021-05-10T18:06:44Z")
To the best of my knowledge, tuna is a type of chicken (of the sea). ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/28 "2021-05-10T18:10:18Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > As long as we’re on the subject, can somebody clear up the difference between brown bears and grizzly bears for me? I don’t understand if they are just two different names for the same thing, two distinct species, two distinct sets of species, or if one is a subset of the other. Looks as clear as any other common name applied by non-zoology-major immigrants across a whole continent to me. Americans started calling their big scary bears grizzlies. Early American biologists split them up into a bunch of species. DNA shows they are all subspecies of Brown bear (Ursus arctos). A lot of them are one particular subspecies (U.a. horribilis), but some of them are not, like the Kodiak, which already has its own name. At least it’s not such a big f-up as “Elk”. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/29 "2021-05-10T18:16:14Z")
There is just one species, but less well established categories of sub-species and populations are identified. Geographic isolation has given some brown bears distinct features, mainly size, but they can all breed with each other and produce offspring identifiable as brown bears. I don’t think there’s any way to positively tell the difference genetically between a large brown bear from the lower 48 and a small Kodiak bear from Alaska. Polar bears are so closely related that at least one brown bear/polar bear hybrid has been identified and there were past suspected cases. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/30 "2021-05-10T18:18:05Z")
Even more confusing is that black bears come in a dozen different colors - including brown. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/31 "2021-05-10T18:18:33Z")
Many of you have brought some good points. Honestly, the Sheldon Cooper part is really what was on my mind and then it led me to my question. No offense meant to anyone 🙂 On a separate note, someone on this board once remarked that koalas are dicks. Made me laugh my ass off. And then a boyfriend who grew up in Aus called them bastards! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/32 "2021-05-10T18:19:33Z")
So grizzly bears are just a type of brown bear? And there are other brown bears that are not grizzly bears? Is there something objective that defines which brown bears are grizzly bears and which aren’t? Or is it a case that any brown bear that gets big enough might be called a grizzly? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/33 "2021-05-10T18:20:44Z")
Yes. Based on several features such as size, plus the shape of the ears and nose, Yogi Bear is believed to be a black bear, many of which have brown coats similar to brown bears. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/34 "2021-05-10T18:23:49Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Is there something objective that defines which brown bears are grizzly bears and which aren’t? Are there chunks of backpacker in their teeth? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/35 "2021-05-10T18:26:04Z")
[Here is one answer that points out the difference between an ordinary brown bear and a grizzly is not a hard line](https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/photosmultimedia/brown-bear-frequently-asked-questions.htm#2.). Text below since it doesn’t seem to jump to that spot: "2. What is the difference between brown bears and grizzly bears? All grizzly bears are brown bears, but not all brown bears are grizzly bears. The bears you are watching on the cams are brown bears. Grizzly bears and brown bears are the same species ( _Ursus arctos_ ), but grizzly bears are currently considered to be a separate subspecies ( _U. a. horribilis_ ). Due to a few morphological differences, Kodiak bears are also considered to be a distinct subspecies of brown bear ( _U. a. middendorfii_ ), but are very similar to Katmai’s brown bears in diet and habits. Even though grizzlies are considered to be a subspecies of brown bear, the difference between a grizzly bear and a brown bear is fairly arbitrary. In North America, brown bears are generally considered to be those of the species that have access to coastal food resources like salmon. Grizzly bears live further inland and typically do not have access to marine-derived food resources. Besides habitat and diet, there are physical and (arguably) temperamental differences between brown and grizzly bears. Large male brown bears in Katmai can _routinely_ weigh over 1000 pounds (454 kg) in the fall. In contrast, grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park weigh far less on average. There have been no documented cases of grizzly bears weighing over 900 pounds (408 kg) in Yellowstone. Additionally, grizzly bears seem to react to humans at greater distances than brown bears." Kodiaks at least live on an island and easy to categorize as a sub-species based on geography, but not based on genetics as of yet I believe. Years ago, but in this century I was surprised to see no better definition of ‘species’ than I was taught in the 5th grade. A lot of renaming and reorganization since then, but a lot of that is done on the even fuzzier definition of sub-species. But I suppose genetic definitions are replacing the traditional nomenclature now and that naming can catch up some day. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/36 "2021-05-10T18:29:06Z")
Panda bears were originally called for odd reasons ‘particolor bears’ and were considered members of the bear family. Later, zoologists noted certain physiological similarites with a critter known as the ‘panda,’ and differences with other members of the bear family that led them to believe that they were wrong, and that particolor bears were actually more closely related to the panda. This led to some renaming. The particolor bear became the ‘giant panda,’ and the plain ole panda became the ‘lesser panda’ or ‘red panda.’ Then, 100 years or so later, DNA showed them that they were right the first time. Giant pandas are actually bears, just different bears. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/37 "2021-05-10T18:58:19Z")
I suspect it’s just Sheldon using the colloquial term. I could see the writers having Sheldon do that, but it’s more likely he’d say _Phascolarctos cinereus_. But in the English language in general, they’re sometimes “koala bears” in much the same way that “horned toads” are actually lizards, guinea pigs aren’t pigs, and none of strawberries, blackberries and raspberries are actually berries. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/38 "2021-05-10T19:06:48Z")
[![](https://www.activewild.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/meerkat-colony-1024x878.jpg) ](https://www.activewild.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/meerkat-colony-1024x878.jpg) [https://geographical.co.uk/images/articles/nature/wildlife/2016/european\_polecats/polecat3.jpg](https://geographical.co.uk/images/articles/nature/wildlife/2016/european_polecats/polecat3.jpg) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/O_kk8mGqBj8/maxresdefault.jpg "Adrian Belew - Big Electric Cat") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_kk8mGqBj8) Not actual cats. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/39 "2021-05-10T20:36:53Z")
> [@bump](#): > > But in the English language in general, they’re sometimes “koala bears” in much the same way that “horned toads” are actually lizards, guinea pigs aren’t pigs, and none of strawberries, blackberries and raspberries are actually berries. Strawberries, blackberries and raspberries have likely been berries much longer than they have not, though. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764/40 "2021-05-10T21:26:48Z")
My two favorite bears. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/aiSAzx2.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/aiSAzx2) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-realize-that-koalas-are-not-bears/941764.md?page=3)