Koalas Tend to be called bears, but this is a misnomer. Whilst their scientific genus, Phascolarctos, translates as "pouched bear", koalas are not members with the bear, or Ursidae relatives.13 Koalas are literally a lot more intently connected with kangaroos, bandicoots and possums than true bears. Koalas are marsupial mammals, waiting for link from Article Directories (9)