Velar vocal folds are present in female and immature male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Matthew R. McCurry A,B, Michelle R. Quayle A, Justin Cally A and Justin W. Adams A,C
ADepartment of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3800, Australia.
BGeoscience, Museum Victoria, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email:
ABSTRACT
It was recently shown that adult male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) possess a novel vocal organ, the velar
vocal folds, that underlie their mating bellows. Here we demonstrate through dissection of the infrahyoid region that this novel structure is also present in female and immature male koalas.