Cheetah vs koala

Acinonyx jubatus compared with Phascolarctos cinereus

Key Differences

  • Cheetah is carnivore while koala is herbivore.
  • Cheetah is 5.0x heavier than koala.
  • koala lives longer (15 years vs 12 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Cheetah koala
Kingdom same Animalia (动物界) Animalia (动物界)
Phylum same Chordata (脊索动物门) Chordata (脊索动物门)
Class same Mammalia (哺乳動物) Mammalia (哺乳動物)
Order Carnivora (食肉目) Diprotodontia (雙門齒目)
Family Felidae (Cats) Phascolarctidae (Koalas)
Genus Acinonyx (Cheetahs) Phascolarctos (Koalas)
Species Acinonyx jubatus Phascolarctos cinereus

Evolutionary Relationship

Cheetah and koala share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (哺乳動物)

Conservation Status

Cheetah

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~6.7K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

koala

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Cheetah koala
Diet Carnivore Herbivore
Average Lifespan 12 years 15 years
Average Length 1.5 m 75 cm
Average Weight 50.0 kg 10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cheetah

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 9 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Botswana, Iran, Kenya, Namibia, and Tanzania. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its 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.

Cheetah

猎豹是地球上奔跑最快的陆地动物,在非洲和伊朗草原上短距离冲刺速度可达112千米/小时。体型纤细,胸深腿长,具有标志性的黑色泪纹。与其他大型猫科动物不同,猎豹以吱鸣声和咕噜声交流。由于栖息地碎片化和与更大型捕食者的竞争,猎豹被列为易危,野外仅剩约7,000只。

koala

澳大利亚东部和东南部的标志性有袋类动物,体重最大可达15千克,为了节省低热量桉树叶食物所提供的能量,每天最多睡眠22小时。高度特化,能够处理会致大多数其他哺乳动物死亡的有毒桉树成分,拥有专门适应解毒功能的肠道微生物群。因衣原体病、栖息地开发和气候变化导致种群锐减,2022年被列为濒危物种。

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia