this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2025
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This a perfect demonstration of rote memorization mixed with a lack of critical thinking.
The answer "they're marsupials" doesn't actually answer the question at all. It's just regurgitation of information.
I mean I think it is implied that bears aren't marsupials, thus stating that Koalas are marsupials means there is no overlap, so they must be classified seperately. Namely in a group with other marsupials.
Ok I'll admit I misread the original post as "why aren't koalas bears?".
But yeah you're right this does actually answer the question in the OP.
Edit: nevermind I didn't misread. This doesn't answer the question of WHY koalas are not bears. Taxonomic classifications have logic and reason behind them. So a proper answer would be that bears are placental animals with a longer gestation period. Whereas marsupials have a shorter gestation period and keep their young in a pouch. I'm sure an actual zoologist could give an even more enlightening answer.
My problem is just that this shows no critical thinking skills at all.
The answer given here basically amounts to "they are classified differently because they're classified differently."
Isn't that just known information of a marsupial though. The lifeform/joey is not fully formed enough to survive on its own. So it crawls from the birthing canal up into the pouch down and latches onto a feeding spot and forms the rest of the way there.
They are tiny as hell when it comes to sugar gliders, don't have fur to protect themselves from the environment yet. So the mother's usually lick their stomachs drawing a pathway for what looks like/is? a fetus still. Think smaller than a jellybean and bright red.
This is an actual answer IMO. But I don't think most people actually just know this stuff. Someone asking a question like that in casual conversation probably could use an explanation like this.
I dunno, I think "marsupials = pouches" (and bears = no pouches) is pretty much the first (and possibly only) fact that the vast majority of people who've previously heard the word marsupial would be able to produce.
I'd imagine this knowledge is so common that the "college honor student" in the OP meme seems way over the top. Like how many 10 year olds haven't heard of kangaroos and their pouches?
You're just spelling out the koalifications at this point.
This is all I ask lol
Why aren't killer whales whales? Because they're dolphins.
You gonna come at me too?
I'm sorry to inform you that all dolphins are in fact whales.
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