Big-eared opossum vs small tortoiseshell

Didelphis aurita compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Big-eared opossum is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Big-eared opossum	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Didelphimorphia (Didelphimorphia)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Didelphidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Didelphis	Aglais
Species	Didelphis aurita	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Big-eared opossum and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Big-eared opossum

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Big-eared opossum	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Big-eared opossum

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.

Big-eared opossum

The Big-eared opossum (Didelphis aurita) is a species in the genus Didelphis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.