An image has been circulating recently throughout the intertubes depicting a wet koala looking absolutely terrifying with its hideous fangs:
The real image shows grumpiness, but not viciousness. Some wags apparently ‘shopped in a wolf jaw or something. Mind, koalas aren’t very sociable even if they’re not befanged. Don’t pet them. They have long claws.
Funny how many people got suckered in by that meme.
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Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Dundee
July 30, 2012 at 9:17 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Fake? Yeah, sure, you go on with that whole “There’s no such thing as Drop Bears” denialist schtick. If you get eaten, don’t blame me.
'Tis Himself
July 30, 2012 at 9:21 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
That’s not a koala, it’s a drop bear.
Erin
July 30, 2012 at 9:28 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Really? Even though that lower jaw would stick out a good inch beyond the nose? The things people fall for astound me.
shouldbeworking
July 30, 2012 at 9:32 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
When I was in New Zealand I was warned never to trust an Aussie. And a Kiwi would never lie to a Canuck.
Arkady
July 30, 2012 at 9:55 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
They also apparently have extremely high rates of chlamydia. New colleague just joined my lab once had to dissect out ovaries from roadkill for research…
Alyson Miers
July 30, 2012 at 9:57 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Yeah, that jaw looks awfully long and narrow to be on a koala’s face.
Kylie Sturgess
July 30, 2012 at 10:39 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
… you didn’t know and had to find out? Seriously, next time ask your resident FTB Australian!
'Tis Himself
July 30, 2012 at 10:59 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Koalas or Australians?
Jason Thibeault
July 30, 2012 at 11:31 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Tis Himself @8: Ba-dum-tsssh!
Kylie @7: were you already all over that meme? Heh. Sorry to go stomping on your territory. I only heard about it last night.
Ceryle
July 31, 2012 at 3:38 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
‘Tis Himself: Koalas have chlamydia! (Yes, it is true – a very large percentage of Aussie koalas have it)
When I first saw the photo, I immediately thought “someone has shopped a Tasmanian Devil’s jaw on the koala”
Of course, getting a photo of a Tasmanian Devil’s jaw like that isn’t easy anymore – there is an infectious cancer-like illness ravaging the devil population (their jaws actually look hideous when infected – most die of the complication “starvation”, as they can no longer eat with half their jaw missing – google it if you really need to)
mildlymagnificent
July 31, 2012 at 7:52 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I still go with the idea that some Aussie schoolkid has photoshopped up a drop bear image. Giving nightmares to US visitors is a traditional Aussie pastime.
Dianne
July 31, 2012 at 10:06 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Personally, I find the unphotoshopped version scarier. The photoshopped koala is showing us its scariest aspect and…well, they’re just fangs. Yeah, I wouldn’t want to get bitten by one, but they’re just big teeth. Unphotoshopped koala looks like it’s trying to decide whether to blast you with its rocket launcher or say heck with it and nuke Sydney from orbit.
xjustos
July 31, 2012 at 11:05 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
you need to search your name on youtube
Jason Thibeault
July 31, 2012 at 11:09 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
xjustos: It’s Dave Mabus. He’s decided I’m a big shot because I blog on the same network as PZ.
Jason Thibeault
July 31, 2012 at 11:27 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
And by “It’s Dave Mabus”, I mean “you’re Dave Mabus”. http://www.geoiptool.com/en/?IP=174.142.32.173
F
July 31, 2012 at 11:49 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Grumpiness is only apparent if you swap in a human brow for the wet hair.
Grytpype
August 1, 2012 at 9:36 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
To be honest, the original photo looks far more menacing.
PatrickG
August 4, 2012 at 12:25 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
@Dianne/Grytpype
No kidding! My mind immediately conjured up gruesome visions of just what that… that thing was going to do to me.
/shiver.
The Problem with Pseudonymity | Lousy Canuck
August 1, 2012 at 1:29 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
[...] guy named Dennis Markuze, who’s posted regularly under the name of Dave Mabus, who’s back on the blogosphere. The Montreal police will know very soon that he’s quite possibly off his meds and breaking [...]