Koalas Will often be called bears, but it is a misnomer. Although their scientific genus, Phascolarctos, translates as "pouched bear", koalas are certainly not members on the bear, or Ursidae family.13 Koalas are literally a lot more closely connected with kangaroos, bandicoots and possums than true bears. Koalas are marsupial waiting for link from Article Directories (6)