Koalas Tend to be called bears, but that is a misnomer. Although their scientific genus, Phascolarctos, interprets as "pouched bear", koalas usually are not customers of the bear, or Ursidae family members.thirteen Koalas are literally far more intently connected with kangaroos, bandicoots and possums than real bears. Koalas are marsupial waiting for link from Article Directories (12)