Australian dodder vs Buckelwal

Cuscuta australis compared with Megaptera novaeangliae

Key Differences

Australian dodder is Not Evaluated while Buckelwal is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Australian dodder	Buckelwal
Kingdom	Plantae (Pflanzen)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Solanales (Nachtschattenartige)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Convolvulaceae	Balaenopteridae (Rorquals)
Genus	Cuscuta	Megaptera (Humpback Whales)
Species	Cuscuta australis	Megaptera novaeangliae

Conservation Status

Australian dodder

NE — Not Evaluated

Buckelwal

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~80.0K

Trend: Increasing ↑

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Australian dodder	Buckelwal
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	50 years
Average Length	—	15.0 m
Average Weight	—	30.0 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

Australian dodder

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Guinea), Asia (Taiwan), and Europe (4 countries).

Buckelwal

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Australian dodder

The Australian dodder (Cuscuta australis) is a species in the genus Cuscuta. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions. Cuscuta australis contributes to the biodiversity of its native ecosystems.

Buckelwal

Among the most acrobatic of the great whales, humpback whales are renowned for their complex, haunting songs sung by males during breeding season — some lasting hours and evolving over time. Reaching 16 meters and 30 tonnes, they undertake the longest migrations of any mammal. Found in all oceans, humpbacks feed on krill and small fish using cooperative bubble-net feeding. Populations have largely recovered from historic whaling.