vs koala

Chrysochromulina bergenensis compared with Phascolarctos cinereus

Key Differences

is Not Evaluated while koala is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		koala
Kingdom	Chromista (Chromista)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum	Haptophyta (Haptophyta)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Prymnesiophyceae (Prymnesiophyceae)	Mammalia (mammifères)
Order	Prymnesiales (Prymnesiales)	Diprotodontia (Marsupials)
Family	Chrysochromulinaceae	Phascolarctidae (Koalas)
Genus	Chrysochromulina	Phascolarctos (Koalas)
Species	Chrysochromulina bergenensis	Phascolarctos cinereus

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

koala

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Brazil, Norway, and Sweden.

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.

Chrysochromulina bergenensis is a unicellular marine haptophyte named after Bergen, Norway, near where it was first described, reflecting the strong tradition of phycological research centered on the Norwegian coast. It belongs to the genus Chrysochromulina, family Chrysochromulinaceae, class Prymnesiophyceae — a group of golden-brown microalgae distinguished by possession of a haptonema alongside two flagella. The haptonema is a flagella-like appendage unique to haptophytes that functions in prey capture and temporary substrate attachment. C. bergenensis is a nanoplankton species inhabiting coastal marine and occasionally brackish waters, and has been documented from Norwegian and Swedish coastal regions as well as from South American waters including Brazil, indicating a broader distribution than its type locality might suggest. In oligotrophic to mesotrophic marine environments, Chrysochromulina species including C. bergenensis contribute to picoeukaryotic and nanoeukaryotic primary production. The cell surface is ornamented with siliceous or organic scales whose morphology is species-diagnostic. Mixotrophy — the ability to both photosynthesize and ingest particulate food — is common across the genus and likely occurs in this species. C. bergenensis has not been assessed under IUCN Red List criteria and is classified as Not Evaluated. In ecological terms, haptophytes occupy key roles in oceanic carbon export, nutrient cycling, and as prey items for heterotrophic protists and copepods in temperate and boreal Atlantic food webs.

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.