Despite some pop culture references to adorable “koala bears”, this species is actually a marsupial, not a bear. Marsupials are mammals that have a pouch; think other Australian animals like kangaroos and wallabies. The misnomer can be traced back to early French settlers in Australia. Koalas are adapted to spend most of their life in trees – with large paws and sharp claws for quick climbing and two opposable thumbs on each front paw to grip branches.

Source: Cleveland Zoological Society