clay triple-lines vs Hooded seal

Cyclophora linearia compared with Cystophora cristata

Key Differences

• clay triple-lines is Least Concern while Hooded seal is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	clay triple-lines	Hooded seal
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)
Family	Geometridae	Phocidae (True Seals)
Genus	Cyclophora	Cystophora
Species	Cyclophora linearia	Cystophora cristata

Evolutionary Relationship

clay triple-lines and Hooded seal share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

clay triple-lines

LC — Least Concern

Hooded seal

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	clay triple-lines	Hooded seal
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

clay triple-lines

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Hooded seal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Portugal. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

clay triple-lines

The Clay Triple-lines, Cyclophora linearia, is a geometrid moth in the family Geometridae found across Europe and temperate Asia, inhabiting deciduous woodland, hedgerows, and scrubby areas where its larval host plant beech (Fagus sylvatica) is present. The forewings are pale clay-buff to cream, crossed by three distinct darker brown or ochreous lines from which the common name derives, with a small darker discal spot. The hindwings are similarly patterned but slightly paler. The species is well camouflaged at rest on bark and dead wood. Adults are crepuscular and nocturnal, flying in two generations per year in much of its range, with adults on the wing in spring and again in summer. The larvae feed on the young leaves of beech trees, and the species is strongly associated with mature beech woodland throughout its range. As beech woodland becomes increasingly threatened by climate change, drought stress, and changing forest management practices across Europe, specialist beech-associated insects like the Clay Triple-lines may face habitat contractions. The species is currently widespread and not considered globally threatened, but national populations show variation in abundance tied to the health of beech forest habitats.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway