Marsupial and Placental Differences?
Why would a koala bear be more closely related to a kangaroo than to a panda bear?
My friend has been going on and on about how, because they look alike, they're more related. I can't for the life of me find the right words to tell her why--which brings me here.
If anyone could give a nice detailed reason as to why she's wrong, It would be most appreciated!
Update:When I say, "My friend has been going on and on about how, because they look alike, they're more related." I meanst that she means the koala and panda (and every other bear) are related--along with every marsupial that looks like another form of placental creature.
Is it that they're both apart of the same order but not the same genus and species?
More Questions From This User See All
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Koala bears are marsupials. They birth their young when they are practically still a fetus, then raise them to younghood in their pouch.
Panda bears, like all true ursines (which Koalas are not) give birth to young which are practically fully developed, just smaller.
Marsupials and placentals went their seperate ways more than a hundred million years ago. Bears and koalas developed completely seperately.