koala vs Larch Spike

Phascolarctos cinereus compared with Gomphidius maculatus

Key Differences

• koala is Vulnerable while Larch Spike is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	koala	Larch Spike
Kingdom	Animalia (สัตว์)	Fungi (เห็ดรา)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Diprotodontia (Marsupials)	Boletales (Boletales)
Family	Phascolarctidae (Koalas)	Gomphidiaceae
Genus	Phascolarctos (Koalas)	Gomphidius
Species	Phascolarctos cinereus	Gomphidius maculatus

Conservation Status

koala

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Larch Spike

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	koala	Larch Spike
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	15 years	—
Average Length	75 cm	—
Average Weight	10.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Larch Spike

Habitat

Inhabits temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Asia (Taiwan) and Europe (5 countries). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.