Mat Spiderhead vs small tortoiseshell

Serruria viridifolia compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Mat Spiderhead is Vulnerable while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Mat Spiderhead	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Proteales (Proteales)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Proteaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Serruria	Aglais
Species	Serruria viridifolia	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Mat Spiderhead

VU — Vulnerable

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Mat Spiderhead	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Mat Spiderhead

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.