Mediterranean pepperweed vs small tortoiseshell

Lepidium hirtum compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Mediterranean pepperweed is Extinct while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Mediterranean pepperweed	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Brassicales (Brassicales)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Brassicaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Lepidium	Aglais
Species	Lepidium hirtum	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Mediterranean pepperweed

EX — Extinct

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Mediterranean pepperweed	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Mediterranean pepperweed

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium and 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 (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.