vs koala

Clavulina amethystina compared with Phascolarctos cinereus

Key Differences

is Data Deficient while koala is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		koala
Kingdom	Fungi (真菌界)	Animalia (动物界)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (担子菌门)	Chordata (脊索动物门)
Class	Agaricomycetes (傘菌綱)	Mammalia (哺乳動物)
Order	Cantharellales (雞油菌目)	Diprotodontia (雙門齒目)
Family	Hydnaceae	Phascolarctidae (Koalas)
Genus	Clavulina	Phascolarctos (Koalas)
Species	Clavulina amethystina	Phascolarctos cinereus

Conservation Status

DD — Data Deficient

koala

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States.

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.

Clavulina amethystina, commonly known as the Amethyst Coral Fungus or Violet Coral, is a distinctive branched coral fungus in the family Cantharellaceae, notable for its striking purple to violet coloration. The fruiting bodies are repeatedly branched, resembling coral or tiny antlers, and range in color from pale lilac to deep amethyst, though color can fade with age or exposure to light, shifting toward grayish-white. This species is found in deciduous and mixed forests across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia, growing on soil and leaf litter in summer and autumn. Clavulina amethystina forms associations with forest trees, potentially functioning as an ectomycorrhizal partner, though the precise nature of its nutritional ecology remains under investigation. The flesh is fragile, white to pale lavender, and the spores are borne on the flattened tips of the branches. The Amethyst Coral Fungus is edible but of limited culinary interest due to its small size and somewhat bitter flavor when aged. It is easily identified by its distinctive color, though care should be taken not to confuse it with other coral fungi. The species is not currently threatened and is considered relatively common in its preferred mature forest habitats, though it may serve as an indicator of undisturbed soil communities.