koala vs Western highfin spurdog

Phascolarctos cinereus compared with Squalus altipinnis

Key Differences

• koala is Vulnerable while Western highfin spurdog is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	koala	Western highfin spurdog
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Elasmobranchii
Order	Diprotodontia (Marsupials)	Squaliformes (Squaliformes)
Family	Phascolarctidae (Koalas)	Squalidae
Genus	Phascolarctos (Koalas)	Squalus
Species	Phascolarctos cinereus	Squalus altipinnis

Evolutionary Relationship

koala and Western highfin spurdog share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

koala

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Western highfin spurdog

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	koala	Western highfin spurdog
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.

Western highfin spurdog

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.