Why was the koala classified as a marsupial?

Because the young koalas, joeys, emerge in a very immature state and to survive must crawl into an external pouch on the mother's body. There it attaches to a nipple for milk and grows for a few months. read more

Peter Badovinatz, Technology professional with lifelong fascinations for soccer and marsupials. Answered Jan 18, 2018 Because the young koalas, joeys, emerge in a very immature state and to survive must crawl into an external pouch on the mother's body. read more

The koala is classified with wombats (family Vombatidae) and several extinct families (including marsupial tapirs, marsupial lions and giant wombats) in the suborder Vombatiformes within the order Diprotodontia. The Vombatiformes are a sister group to a clade that includes macropods (kangaroos and wallabies) and possums. read more

Like most marsupials, koalas have a pouch in which to keep their young. Most marsupials, including kangaroos, wallabies, possums, bandicoots and koalas, share this feature, but some marsupials such as the numbat lack an abdominal pouch. Like other marsupials, koala joeys are characterised by being extremely small and undeveloped at birth. read more