vs koala

Chitinophaga terrae compared with Phascolarctos cinereus

Key Differences

is Not Evaluated while koala is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		koala
Kingdom	Bacteria (Bacteria)	Animalia (hewan)
Phylum	Bacteroidota (Bacteroidota)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Bacteroidia (Bacteroidia)	Mammalia (mamalia)
Order	Chitinophagales (Chitinophagales)	Diprotodontia (Marsupials)
Family	Chitinophagaceae	Phascolarctidae (Koalas)
Genus	Chitinophaga	Phascolarctos (Koalas)
Species	Chitinophaga terrae	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 Asia, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

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.

Chitinophaga terrae is a soil bacterium within the genus Chitinophaga, family Chitinophagaceae, phylum Bacteroidota. The epithet terrae — meaning 'of the earth' or 'of the soil' — aptly describes this species' ecological niche as a terrestrial, soil-dwelling organism. Chitinophaga terrae shares the defining characteristics of the genus: Gram-negative cell morphology, gliding motility, strictly aerobic respiration, and the production of extracellular chitinases capable of hydrolysing chitin. These chitinolytic enzymes break down the long-chain polysaccharide into shorter oligomers and ultimately into N-acetylglucosamine monomers, which can then be assimilated as carbon and nitrogen sources by the bacterium and other soil inhabitants. This metabolic activity positions C. terrae as an important contributor to the decomposer community of terrestrial soils, facilitating nutrient cycling particularly in environments with high inputs of fungal and arthropod biomass. Like other Chitinophaga species, it is non-pathogenic and has been identified in a range of agricultural and natural soils globally. Industrial interest in the genus centres on chitinase production for biotechnological applications including biological pest control, biodegradable material production, and enzyme formulations for various industries. As a bacterium, C. terrae is outside the scope of IUCN assessments and is listed as Not Evaluated.

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.