And could a koala commit the perfect crime?

Most animals leave behind paw prints, claw marks, or little trails in the mud.
But koalas? They leave behind something far more mysterious…

A fingerprint so detailed, it can fool even scientists.

Wait — koalas have fingerprints?
Just like ours?

Yep. Let’s take a closer look (literally).

Tiny Swirls That Could Fool a Detective

Humans aren’t the only ones with fingerprints — but we are pretty famous for them.
Every person’s prints are totally unique. That’s why police and scientists use them to solve mysteries and identify people.

But in Australia, scientists once found something strange while studying koalas:
Their fingerprints looked almost identical to human ones.
Not kinda similar — nearly impossible to tell apart, even under a microscope.

In fact, if a koala broke into your kitchen and stole a cookie, it might just frame you by accident.

Why Would a Koala Even Need Fingerprints?

Here’s the fun part — it’s not totally clear!

Fingerprint patterns help with gripping, especially in animals that need to climb, grasp, or pick things up.

Koalas:

• Spend their lives climbing tall eucalyptus trees
• Grip thin branches with their front paws
• Peel leaves and bring them to their mouths

So maybe, over time, nature gave them extra gripping power — and the swirly fingerprints came along for the ride.

It’s an example of convergent evolution — when two very different species evolve similar traits to solve the same problem.

Who Else Has Fingerprints?

You might think fingerprints are a human-only thing — but…

• Chimpanzees and gorillas have them too (makes sense — we share ancestors)
• Some monkeys do, especially tree-dwelling ones
• And then… surprise! Koalas, who aren’t even close to primates

They’re marsupials, like kangaroos and wombats. But neither of those relatives have fingerprints. Just koalas.

Why? That’s still a bit of a mystery.
Even science doesn’t always have all the answers — and that’s what makes it fun

Still Wondering?

• Could scientists ever use animal fingerprints to track wildlife?
• Do koalas really need such complex prints to hold leaves?
• What would your fingerprint look like next to a koala’s?

Talk About It at Dinner

“If an animal could borrow one human feature (like hands, voice, or memory), which would be the most useful — and why?”

Let your child imagine cross-species evolution, blending creativity with science.

Want More Animal Surprises?

Our is packed with unexpected facts, clever questions, and smile-worthy discoveries from the wild. Perfect for curious kids and sneaky koala detectives