Alpine ibex vs large tortoiseshell

Capra ibex compared with Nymphalis polychloros

Key Differences

• Alpine ibex is Least Concern while large tortoiseshell is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alpine ibex	large tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Artiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Bovidae (Bovids)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Capra	Nymphalis
Species	Capra ibex	Nymphalis polychloros

Evolutionary Relationship

Alpine ibex and large tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Alpine ibex

LC — Least Concern

large tortoiseshell

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alpine ibex	large tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alpine ibex

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (8 countries), North America (Mexico), and South America (Argentina).

large tortoiseshell

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

Alpine ibex

The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) is a species in the genus Capra. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Widely distributed across Europe (8 countries), North America (Mexico), and South America (Argentina).

large tortoiseshell

large tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) 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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 8 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇫🇷 France 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇷🇴 Romania 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇬🇧 United Kingdom