Mourning Cloak vs Polyphyllous Globe Thistle

Nymphalis antiopa compared with Echinops foliosus

Key Differences

• Mourning Cloak is Critically Endangered while Polyphyllous Globe Thistle is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Mourning Cloak	Polyphyllous Globe Thistle
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Afrosoricida (Afrosoricida)
Family	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)	Tenrecidae
Genus	Nymphalis	Echinops
Species	Nymphalis antiopa	Echinops foliosus

Evolutionary Relationship

Mourning Cloak and Polyphyllous Globe Thistle share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Mourning Cloak

CR — Critically Endangered

Polyphyllous Globe Thistle

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Mourning Cloak	Polyphyllous Globe Thistle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Mourning Cloak

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 9 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (39 countries) and North America (Canada, United States). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Polyphyllous Globe Thistle

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due to severe population decline and habitat loss.