Japanese Mitten Lobster vs Koala

Parribacus japonicus compared with Phascolarctos cinereus

Key Differences

• Japanese Mitten Lobster is Data Deficient while Koala is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Japanese Mitten Lobster	Koala
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Gliederfüßer)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Malacostraca (Höhere Krebse)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Decapoda (Zehnfußkrebse)	Diprotodontia (Marsupials)
Family	Scyllaridae	Phascolarctidae (Koalas)
Genus	Parribacus	Phascolarctos (Koalas)
Species	Parribacus japonicus	Phascolarctos cinereus

Evolutionary Relationship

Japanese Mitten Lobster and Koala share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Tier)

Conservation Status

Japanese Mitten Lobster

DD — Data Deficient

Koala

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Japanese Mitten Lobster	Koala
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	15 years
Average Length	—	75 cm
Average Weight	—	10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Japanese Mitten Lobster

Habitat

Typically found in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments.

Range

Found in Taiwan.

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.

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.