Cape Star-chestnut vs small tortoiseshell

Sterculia alexandri compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

  • Cape Star-chestnut is Vulnerable while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Cape Star-chestnut small tortoiseshell
Kingdom Plantae (Plants) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants) Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Magnoliopsida (Dicots) Insecta (Insects)
Order Malvales (Malvales) Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family Malvaceae Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus Sterculia Aglais
Species Sterculia alexandri Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Cape Star-chestnut

VU — Vulnerable

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Cape Star-chestnut small tortoiseshell
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cape Star-chestnut

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

small tortoiseshell

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (41 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Cape Star-chestnut

The Cape Star-chestnut (Sterculia alexandri) is a species in the genus Sterculia. It is currently classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

small tortoiseshell

small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia