Mnestra’s Ringlet vs small tortoiseshell

Erebia mnestra compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Mnestra’s Ringlet is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Mnestra’s Ringlet	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (حيوانات)	Animalia (حيوانات)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (مفصليات الأرجل)	Arthropoda (مفصليات الأرجل)
Class same	Insecta (حشرات)	Insecta (حشرات)
Order same	Lepidoptera (حرشفيات الأجنحة)	Lepidoptera (حرشفيات الأجنحة)
Family same	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Erebia	Aglais
Species	Erebia mnestra	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Mnestra’s Ringlet and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Family level: Nymphalidae. (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Conservation Status

Mnestra’s Ringlet

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Mnestra’s Ringlet	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Mnestra’s Ringlet

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

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

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇦🇹 Austria 🇫🇷 France 🇮🇹 Italy 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein 🇨🇭 Switzerland