Coastal Dung Beetle vs koala

Onthophagus nigriventris compared with Phascolarctos cinereus

Key Differences

  • Coastal Dung Beetle is Least Concern while koala is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Coastal Dung Beetle koala
Kingdom same Animalia (動物) Animalia (動物)
Phylum Arthropoda (節足動物) Chordata (脊索動物)
Class Insecta (昆虫) Mammalia (哺乳類)
Order Coleoptera (コウチュウ目) Diprotodontia (カンガルー目)
Family Scarabaeidae Phascolarctidae (Koalas)
Genus Onthophagus Phascolarctos (Koalas)
Species Onthophagus nigriventris Phascolarctos cinereus

Evolutionary Relationship

Coastal Dung Beetle and koala share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (動物)

Conservation Status

Coastal Dung Beetle

LC — Least Concern

koala

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Coastal Dung Beetle koala
Diet Herbivore
Average Lifespan 15 years
Average Length 75 cm
Average Weight 10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Coastal Dung Beetle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in United States.

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.

Coastal Dung Beetle

Onthophagus nigriventris, the coastal dung beetle, is a scarabaeid beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Scarabaeinae, recorded from coastal habitats in the United States. Dung beetles in the genus Onthophagus, comprising over 2,000 species and representing the most species-rich genus of beetles globally, play critical ecological roles as decomposers, burying mammal dung to provision nests in which females lay eggs and larvae develop. By transporting dung underground, Onthophagus beetles contribute to nutrient cycling, soil aeration, secondary seed dispersal from seeds present in dung, and reduction of parasite loads in livestock. The coastal association of O. nigriventris may reflect its association with marine mammal haul-out sites, seabird colonies, or the dung of coastal wildlife such as deer, raccoons, and feral animals in beach and dune systems. The species is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Dung beetle communities have declined significantly in parts of North America and Europe due to widespread veterinary use of ivermectin and related antiparasitic drugs in livestock, which persist in dung and are lethal to beetle larvae developing within treated dung pats.

koala

オーストラリア東部・南東部を代表する有袋類で、体重は最大15kgに達し、低カロリーのユーカリの葉食から得るエネルギーを節約するために1日最大22時間を睡眠に費やす。他の哺乳類の多くを死に至らしめる有毒なユーカリ成分を処理するために高度に特化しており、解毒に特別に適応した腸内微生物叢を持つ。クラミジア感染症、生息地の伐採、気候変動により個体数が激減し、2022年に絶滅危惧種に指定された。

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