Field Earthstar vs small tortoiseshell

Geastrum campestre compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Field Earthstar is Critically Endangered while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Field Earthstar	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Geastrales (Geastrales)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Geastraceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Geastrum	Aglais
Species	Geastrum campestre	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Field Earthstar

CR — Critically Endangered

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Field Earthstar	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Field Earthstar

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 6 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇬🇧 United Kingdom