Flat-topped Thorn vs small tortoiseshell

Vachellia sieberiana compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Flat-topped Thorn is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Flat-topped Thorn	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Fabales (Legumes & Allies)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Fabaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Vachellia	Aglais
Species	Vachellia sieberiana	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Flat-topped Thorn

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Flat-topped Thorn	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Flat-topped Thorn

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

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 (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.