vs koala

Clitopilus scyphoides compared with Phascolarctos cinereus

Key Differences

is Data Deficient while koala is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		koala
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (mammifères)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Diprotodontia (Marsupials)
Family	Entolomataceae	Phascolarctidae (Koalas)
Genus	Clitopilus	Phascolarctos (Koalas)
Species	Clitopilus scyphoides	Phascolarctos cinereus

Conservation Status

DD — Data Deficient

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

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil).

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.

Clitopilus scyphoides is an agaric fungus in the family Entolomataceae found in temperate European woodlands and grassland habitats. The species epithet scyphoides refers to a cup- or goblet-like form ('scyphus' meaning cup in Latin), likely describing the mature cap shape which becomes deeply depressed to funnel-shaped at maturity. Like other Clitopilus species, it produces white to pale cap surfaces, crowded decurrent gills that develop a pinkish tinge from the angular spores as they mature, and typically exhibits a mealy or farinaceous odor. It fruits in autumn in woodland clearings, beech and oak woodland floors, and occasionally in grassy habitats. The Clitopilus genus contains around a dozen recognized European species, some of which resemble the edible sweetbread mushroom C. prunulus. Molecular and morphological studies continue to clarify species boundaries and relationships within the genus. C. scyphoides contributes to the decomposer fungal community in its habitats, processing leaf litter and soil organic matter within temperate European forest and grassland ecosystems.

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.