Cleopatra vs Marta

Gonepteryx cleopatra compared with Martes martes

Key Differences

• Cleopatra is Least Concern while Marta is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cleopatra	Marta
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (artrópodos)	Chordata (cordados)
Class	Insecta (insecto)	Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Carnivora (carnívoros)
Family	Pieridae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Gonepteryx	Martes
Species	Gonepteryx cleopatra	Martes martes

Evolutionary Relationship

Cleopatra and Marta share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Cleopatra

LC — Least Concern

Marta

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cleopatra	Marta
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cleopatra

Habitat

Inhabits Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Found across Asia (Cyprus) and Europe (15 countries).

Marta

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Cleopatra

The Cleopatra, Gonepteryx cleopatra, is a large, striking butterfly in the family Pieridae found across the Mediterranean basin, including southern Europe from Portugal and Spain east to Greece and Turkey, and extending into North Africa and the Middle East. The species is closely related to the common Brimstone butterfly but is larger and more vividly colored. Males display brilliant yellow-orange upperwings with a distinctive deep orange patch on the forewing, while females are pale greenish-white, resembling the Brimstone. The undersides of both sexes are pale green, providing excellent camouflage when resting on vegetation. The Cleopatra inhabits warm, rocky hillsides, maquis, garrigue, woodland edges, and citrus groves where its larval host plants, buckthorns (Rhamnus species), are present. Adults are strong fliers, frequently visiting flowers for nectar. Like the Brimstone, the Cleopatra overwinters as an adult, sheltering in dense evergreen vegetation during the coldest months and re-emerging on warm winter days. The species produces one generation per year. It is widespread and locally common across its Mediterranean range and is assessed as Least Concern by IUCN, though habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urbanization affects local populations.

Marta

La marta europea (Martes martes) está clasificada como En Peligro Crítico (CR) en la Lista Roja de la UICN. Enfrenta un riesgo extremadamente alto de extinción en estado silvestre debido al severo declive poblacional y la pérdida de hábitat.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇮🇹 Italy 🇪🇸 Spain