Why do koalas sleep for so many hours a day?
Quick Answer
Koalas sleep a lot because eucalyptus leaves are low in energy and hard to digest. Their diet gives them little fuel, so they conserve energy by resting for long periods.
The Full Story
Koalas eat leaves that are toxic or unpalatable to many other animals and provide relatively little nutrition. Because of this low-energy diet, koalas have a slow metabolism and spend much of the day asleep or resting. They also need time to digest fibrous plant material, which is difficult and inefficient to process. In the wild, koalas may sleep or rest for around 18 to 22 hours a day. Their behavior is a direct response to the limitations of their unusual food source.
Key Facts
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