Flat-Top Bogmoss vs small tortoiseshell

Sphagnum fallax compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Flat-Top Bogmoss is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Flat-Top Bogmoss	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Bryophyta	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Sphagnopsida (Sphagnopsida)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Sphagnales (Sphagnales)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Sphagnaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Sphagnum	Aglais
Species	Sphagnum fallax	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Flat-Top Bogmoss

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Flat-Top Bogmoss	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Flat-Top Bogmoss

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (United States).

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 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden