The main factor that determines the koala’s
body temperature is its fur.
The fur is created in
a way to ensure perfect heat insulation:
The intensity of feathers in the fur may reach around
55 feathers per square millimeter. The fur in the
back of the animal covers 77% of the body surface.
The feathers on the stomach, on the other hand, are
only half as intensive as the back fur, and it covers
only 13% of the body surface.
The length of feathers changes from season to season.
In summertime, the difference between long feathers
and short ones become even more.
The thick fur on the back is darker than the loose
ones on the stomach; this way, the koala collects
and insulates the sun’s heat. Despite the loose
stomach feathers, the koala can adjust the grade of
insulation by steepening them.
On windy days, the koalas on trees give only their middle-backs
against the wind, and they curl-up into the shape of a ball.
As the intensity of the wind increases, they bend their
ears forward. This way, none of their limbs becomes vulnerable
to the air stream. The back fur of the koala has the highest
grade of insulation. It’s insulation is very close
to the grade of insulation of the animals living in the
Northern Pole.
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The wind has only a weak effect upon this strong fur on
the back of the animal. Under heavy wind, the fur can maintain
a constant body temperature. Indeed, even on very cold days
and under heavy winds, the fur’s heat protection capacity
drops only by 14%. Such data indicates that for an animal
living on the top branches of trees in forests, they are
ensured a perfect protection against cold.
The koala’s metabolism rate is also regulated in a
way to complement the heat insulation of the fur. The metabolism
of the koala is quite slow; it is only 74% of other animals’
metabolism rate. With such a slow rate, the animal also
has a low water loss. Article is based on the works of Harun Yahya (www.harunyahya.com)
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Fossil Specimens Discovered in The USA