Koalas Tend to be referred to as bears, but that is a misnomer. Whilst their scientific genus, Phascolarctos, translates as "pouched bear", koalas are not users in the bear, or Ursidae family members.thirteen Koalas are actually a lot more closely connected to kangaroos, bandicoots and possums than legitimate bears. Koalas waiting for link from Article Directories (12)