Definition

Noun: * A common name for the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), a slow-moving, tree-dwelling (arboreal) marsupial native to Australia. It is characterized by its lack of a visible tail, large grey furry ears, and thick grey fur. Its diet consists almost exclusively of the leaves, shoots, and bark of eucalyptus trees.

Usage Notes

• The term "native bear" is a historical or colloquial name. While it reflects the animal's bear-like appearance to early European settlers, it is scientifically inaccurate as the koala is a marsupial, not a bear. The preferred and more common term today is koala.
• It is used as a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Early explorers described the native bear as a curious, tree-climbing animal.
• The native bear spends most of its life high in the eucalyptus canopy.
• Conservation efforts are crucial to protect the habitat of the native bear.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used in historical or cultural contexts to discuss early Australian natural history or settler perspectives on local fauna.
  • The diary of the 19th-century naturalist frequently mentions observations of the "native bear."

Variants and Related Words

• Koala: The standard modern term for the animal.
• Koala bear: A common alternative colloquial name, though also scientifically imprecise.
• Phascolarctos cinereus: The formal biological (Latin) species name.

Synonyms

• Koala
• Koala bear (colloquial)

Notes on Meaning

• The primary meaning refers specifically to the koala. It is not used as a general term for any bear native to a region. For example, an American black bear is a "native bear" of North America in a descriptive sense, but it is not referred to by the capitalized or common term "Native Bear."

Noun

1. sluggish tailless Australian arboreal marsupial with grey furry ears and coat; feeds on eucalyptus leaves and bark