Balkan Mole vs large tortoiseshell

Talpa stankovici compared with Nymphalis polychloros

Key Differences

• Balkan Mole is Least Concern while large tortoiseshell is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Balkan Mole	large tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Talpidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Talpa	Nymphalis
Species	Talpa stankovici	Nymphalis polychloros

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Balkan Mole

LC — Least Concern

large tortoiseshell

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Balkan Mole	large tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Balkan Mole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.

Balkan Mole

The Balkan Mole (Talpa stankovici) is a species in the genus Talpa. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Like other members of its genus, this species plays a role in its native ecosystem.

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.