10 Surprising Animal Pairs You Didn’t Realize Are Close Relatives

6. Kangaroos and Koalas: Marsupial Marvels

Australia's unique marsupials, kangaroos and koalas, are iconic symbols of the continent's diverse wildlife. These animals share a common ancestor within the marsupial infraclass, which diverged from placental mammals around 160 million years ago. Despite their differences in habitat and behavior—kangaroos are known for their powerful hind legs and hopping locomotion, while koalas are arboreal and sedentary—both species exhibit the defining characteristic of marsupials: raising their young in a pouch. This shared trait reflects their evolutionary history, which has allowed them to adapt to the challenging environments of Australia. The kangaroo-koala kinship highlights the diversity of marsupial life and the evolutionary innovations that have enabled these animals to thrive in their respective niches.