common carpet vs common grey sea slug

Epirrhoe alternata compared with Aeolidia papillosa

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	common carpet	common grey sea slug
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Nudibranchia (Nudibranchia)
Family	Geometridae	Aeolidiidae
Genus	Epirrhoe	Aeolidia
Species	Epirrhoe alternata	Aeolidia papillosa

Evolutionary Relationship

common carpet and common grey sea slug share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

common carpet

LC — Least Concern

common grey sea slug

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	common carpet	common grey sea slug
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

common carpet

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (4 countries) and North America (Canada, United States).

common grey sea slug

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

common carpet

<em>Epirrhoe alternata</em>, commonly known as the common carpet, is a moth species found across Europe, Canada, and the United States. It typically inhabits all terrestrial and freshwater environments, often occurring in woodland edges, gardens, hedgerows, and areas where its larval host plants are abundant. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its broad distribution and generally stable populations. The common carpet belongs to the genus <em>Epirrhoe</em> within the family Geometridae. As a geometer moth, it is characterized by its distinctive wing patterns, which feature alternating light and dark banding that gives rise to its common name. The larvae typically feed on plants in the family Rubiaceae, particularly bedstraws (<em>Galium</em> species), and adults are often observed resting with wings spread flat against vegetation or bark. Biological traits such as average lifespan, wingspan, and body mass of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The species is a common component of temperate moth communities across its range.

common grey sea slug

<em>Aeolidia papillosa</em>, commonly known as the common grey sea slug, is a nudibranch mollusc belonging to the genus Aeolidia within the family Aeolidiidae. Despite the species name referencing terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater, <em>Aeolidia papillosa</em> is primarily a marine organism. Its range includes Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, indicating a distribution across the North Atlantic and into South American waters. Common grey sea slug is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The species is typically found in intertidal and subtidal zones, where it preys on sea anemones and stores stinging cells from its prey in its dorsal cerata for defense. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden