common freshwater amphipod vs koala

Gammarus pulex compared with Phascolarctos cinereus

Key Differences

• common freshwater amphipod is Not Evaluated while koala is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	common freshwater amphipod	koala
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (artrópode)	Chordata (cordados)
Class	Malacostraca (Crustaceans)	Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order	Amphipoda (Anfípoda)	Diprotodontia (Marsupials)
Family	Gammaridae	Phascolarctidae (Koalas)
Genus	Gammarus	Phascolarctos (Koalas)
Species	Gammarus pulex	Phascolarctos cinereus

Evolutionary Relationship

common freshwater amphipod and koala share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

common freshwater amphipod

NE — Not Evaluated

koala

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	common freshwater amphipod	koala
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	15 years
Average Length	—	75 cm
Average Weight	—	10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

common freshwater amphipod

Habitat

Typically found in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

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.

common freshwater amphipod

<em>Gammarus pulex</em> is a small crustacean in the family Gammaridae, order Amphipoda, commonly known as the common freshwater amphipod or freshwater shrimp. This species inhabits freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes across Europe, with documented occurrences in six European countries. <em>Gammarus pulex</em> is a key component of freshwater ecosystems, serving as an important detritivore and shredder that breaks down leaf litter and organic matter, contributing significantly to nutrient cycling in stream ecosystems. It also forms a critical prey item for freshwater fish, birds, and invertebrate predators, occupying a central position in freshwater food webs. The species is highly sensitive to water quality, particularly to organic pollution and chemical contaminants, and is frequently used as a bioindicator in freshwater ecological assessments. <em>Gammarus pulex</em> typically inhabits cool, well-oxygenated running waters with abundant leaf litter and debris. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

koala

Icônico marsupial do leste e sudeste da Austrália, os coalas pesam até 15 kg e passam até 22 horas diárias dormindo para conservar energia de sua dieta de folhas de eucalipto, com baixo teor calórico. Altamente especializados para processar os compostos tóxicos do eucalipto que matariam a maioria dos outros mamíferos, possuem microbiomas intestinais unicamente adaptados para a destoxificação. Classificado como Em Perigo em 2022, com populações dizimadas pela doença de clamídia, desmatamento e mudanças climáticas.