Koalas Are often known as bears, but this can be a misnomer. Even though their scientific genus, Phascolarctos, translates as "pouched bear", koalas are certainly not associates on the bear, or Ursidae spouse and children.13 Koalas are actually more carefully connected with kangaroos, bandicoots and possums than correct bears. Koalas waiting for link from Article Directories (6)