Koalas Are frequently called bears, but it is a misnomer. While their scientific genus, Phascolarctos, interprets as "pouched bear", koalas aren't associates from the bear, or Ursidae family members.13 Koalas are actually far more closely related to kangaroos, bandicoots and possums than correct bears. Koalas are marsupial mammals, which suggests waiting for link from Article Directories (9)