koala vs

Phascolarctos cinereus compared with Thiothrix annulata

Key Differences

  • koala is Vulnerable while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank koala
Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Bacteria (Bacteria)
Phylum Chordata (Chordates) Proteobacteria (Proteobacteria)
Class Mammalia (Mammals) Gammaproteobacteria (Gammaproteobacteria)
Order Diprotodontia (Marsupials) Thiotrichales (Thiotrichales)
Family Phascolarctidae (Koalas) Thiotrichaceae
Genus Phascolarctos (Koalas) Thiothrix
Species Phascolarctos cinereus Thiothrix annulata

Conservation Status

koala

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute koala
Diet Herbivore
Average Lifespan 15 years
Average Length 75 cm
Average Weight 10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

koala

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, forests, and vegetated habitats.

Range

Found in Australia. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Sweden.

koala

Iconic marsupial of eastern and southeastern Australia, koalas weigh up to 15 kg and spend up to 22 hours daily sleeping to conserve energy from their low-calorie eucalyptus leaf diet. Highly specialized to process toxic eucalyptus compounds that would kill most other mammals, they have gut microbiomes uniquely adapted for detoxification. Listed as Endangered in 2022, with populations decimated by chlamydia disease, habitat clearing, and climate change.

Thiothrix annulata is a filamentous sulfur-oxidizing gammaproteobacterium in the family Thiotrichaceae, forming sheathed trichomes that attach to substrates in sulfide-rich aquatic environments. It oxidizes reduced sulfur compounds as an energy source and stores elemental sulfur granules within its cells, giving colonies a whitish appearance. It inhabits sulfur springs, sewage systems, and freshwater streams with elevated sulfide levels.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia