common grey sea slug vs Common Marbled Carpet

Aeolidia papillosa compared with Dysstroma truncata

Taxonomic Classification

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

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

common grey sea slug

LC — Least Concern

Common Marbled Carpet

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	common grey sea slug	Common Marbled Carpet
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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 Marbled 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

<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.

Common Marbled Carpet

<em>Dysstroma truncata</em>, the common marbled carpet, is a geometrid moth in the family Geometridae distributed across Europe and North America. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting stable populations across its wide temperate range. The species is typically found in woodland, hedgerow, and garden habitats where its larval food plants are present. Its wings display complex, marbled patterns in shades of brown, grey, and white, providing effective camouflage against tree bark and leaf litter. Adults are typically nocturnal and are recorded from spring through autumn, with multiple generations possible in warmer parts of its range. Larvae feed on a variety of deciduous plants including bilberry, heather, and various shrubs. The common marbled carpet is a familiar species to moth recorders across temperate Europe and North America, where it is frequently encountered at light traps. Its widespread distribution and habitat generalism contribute to its secure conservation status across both continents.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

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