What I particularly liked about this photo is the study of the anatomy of the koala hind foot. I've described it before but this capture shows it clearly.
First the 'big toe' is actually a thumb, except it has no claw at all.
Then the next two digits are fused together and yet have the double claw which is particularly useful for removing nasty skin bugs like fleas or ticks.
Then two more normal toes like one would see on most animals.
Maybe tomorrow one will give me the double thumbs up so I can clearly show the amazing front digits!
facebook.com/koalagardens for more :)
@congaree thanks for the comment and fav :) they are amazing and I know every day as I go out spotting on the property just how lucky I am! @888rachel the pads are soft in a leathery kind of way, but really tough too as they leap from branch to branch and up the trunks of the trees so they have to be pretty tough. weird feet hey!
First, Welcome to 365!!! I really hope you enjoy it here and Second Thank You for the follow, I will gladly follow you back!
How interesting about this cute little guy. I had no idea, but then I guess I wouldn't as we don't have them here!! Wish we did though cause they are so cute!!! Love the POV and the composition! Looks like a baby when they play with their own feet!!! FAV!
@milaniet so glad you are learning as well as enjoying the shots, their feet are fascinating as other tree climbing animals, even marsupials are not like this @cashew thank you so much for the warm welcome, I'm enjoying it here very much. It's a challenge to get good shots of them as they are often 30 metres or more up a tree, and leaves all around! sincere thanks for the fav :)
Tootsie's feet look tough and strong! Do koalas stay up in the trees most of the time? Tootsie is kind of tucked in between all the branches of this tree! Hello up there, find yourself a yummy leaf!
@kchuk Hi Elyse, they do stay up most of the time, and it's the safest place - they are most vulnerable when on the ground. It also takes a lot of energy to climb down and move on the ground and up again, and there are not many calories in those eucalyptus leaves.
One of the strategies here when trees were planted about 2 years ago was to plant lots of long lines of trees linking all the stands of trees up to allow them to move branch to branch one day!
@888rachel the pads are soft in a leathery kind of way, but really tough too as they leap from branch to branch and up the trunks of the trees so they have to be pretty tough. weird feet hey!
on facebook last night this koala was officially named TOOTSIE. What a perfect name!
How interesting about this cute little guy. I had no idea, but then I guess I wouldn't as we don't have them here!! Wish we did though cause they are so cute!!! Love the POV and the composition! Looks like a baby when they play with their own feet!!! FAV!
@cashew thank you so much for the warm welcome, I'm enjoying it here very much. It's a challenge to get good shots of them as they are often 30 metres or more up a tree, and leaves all around! sincere thanks for the fav :)
One of the strategies here when trees were planted about 2 years ago was to plant lots of long lines of trees linking all the stands of trees up to allow them to move branch to branch one day!