Japanese Cherry vs small tortoiseshell

Prunus serrulata compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Japanese Cherry is Not Evaluated while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Japanese Cherry	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Rosales (Roses & Allies)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Rosaceae (Rose Family)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Prunus (Cherries & Plums)	Aglais
Species	Prunus serrulata	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Japanese Cherry

NE — Not Evaluated

Trend: Stable →

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Japanese Cherry	small tortoiseshell
Diet	Autotroph	—
Average Lifespan	40 years	—
Average Length	10.0 m	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Japanese Cherry

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (7 countries), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (Brazil).

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.

Japanese Cherry

The quintessential symbol of spring in Japan, Japanese cherry trees produce transient clouds of white and pink blossom each spring — a cultural event called hanami (flower viewing) celebrated for centuries. Reaching up to 25 meters, they were domesticated from wild Prunus species over a millennium of selective cultivation, producing primarily sterile ornamental varieties that propagate by grafting. Over 200 cultivars are recognized, with Somei Yoshino accounting for the majority of Japan's famous cherry avenues.

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.