Collared Earthstar vs koala

Geastrum triplex compared with Phascolarctos cinereus

Key Differences

Collared Earthstar is Near Threatened while koala is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Collared Earthstar	koala
Kingdom	Fungi (菌界)	Animalia (動物)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (担子菌門)	Chordata (脊索動物)
Class	Agaricomycetes (真正担子菌綱)	Mammalia (哺乳類)
Order	Geastrales (ヒメツチグリ目)	Diprotodontia (カンガルー目)
Family	Geastraceae	Phascolarctidae (Koalas)
Genus	Geastrum	Phascolarctos (Koalas)
Species	Geastrum triplex	Phascolarctos cinereus

Conservation Status

Collared Earthstar

NT — Near Threatened

koala

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Collared Earthstar

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Brazil, Norway, and United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.

Collared Earthstar

Geastrum triplex, the Collared Earthstar, is a gasteroid fungus in the family Geastraceae, order Geastrales. This species is assessed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it may be at risk of qualifying for a threatened category in the near future. It has been recorded in Belgium, Brazil, Norway, and the United States, and is associated with forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil. Earthstars in the genus Geastrum are recognized by their distinctive star-shaped fruiting bodies, formed when the outer wall splits and folds back into ray-like segments to reveal an inner spore sac. Geastrum triplex is distinguished by the formation of a collar or cup-like structure around the base of the inner spore sac, which gives rise to its common name. Like other gasteroid fungi, it disperses spores through an apical pore in the spore sac. Population estimates and trend data are not available. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Its Near Threatened status may reflect sensitivity to habitat disturbance and forest management practices.

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。