Coastal stingaree vs koala

Urolophus orarius compared with Phascolarctos cinereus

Key Differences

  • Coastal stingaree is Endangered while koala is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Coastal stingaree koala
Kingdom same Animalia (動物) Animalia (動物)
Phylum same Chordata (脊索動物) Chordata (脊索動物)
Class Elasmobranchii Mammalia (哺乳類)
Order Myliobatiformes (トビエイ目) Diprotodontia (カンガルー目)
Family Urolophidae Phascolarctidae (Koalas)
Genus Urolophus Phascolarctos (Koalas)
Species Urolophus orarius Phascolarctos cinereus

Evolutionary Relationship

Coastal stingaree and koala share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (脊索動物)

Conservation Status

Coastal stingaree

EN — Endangered

koala

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Coastal stingaree

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 stingaree

Coastal stingaree (Urolophus orarius) is a small batoid ray in the family Urolophidae, endemic to shallow coastal waters of southern Australia, particularly along the coasts of South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania. Like other stingarees, it has a rounded disc, a short tail armed with one or two venomous spines, and lacks a distinct rostrum. It inhabits sandy and muddy nearshore substrates in depths typically less than 30 metres, where it forages for polychaete worms, crustaceans, and small molluscs buried in the seabed. Females are ovoviviparous, giving birth to small litters of live young following internal development. Coastal stingaree is assessed as Endangered by the IUCN, driven by its restricted range, slow reproductive rate, and significant bycatch in inshore commercial and recreational fisheries operating across southern Australian coastal waters. Bottom trawling, prawn trawling, and gillnetting are identified as major threats. The species receives limited targeted conservation attention and is not currently the subject of specific fisheries management measures. Its small home range and coastal distribution make it especially vulnerable to localised fishery impacts.

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。

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia