Blue-Spotted Salamander vs small tortoiseshell

Ambystoma laterale compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Blue-Spotted Salamander is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blue-Spotted Salamander	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Amphibia (Amphibians)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Caudata (Caudata)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Ambystomatidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Ambystoma	Aglais
Species	Ambystoma laterale	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Blue-Spotted Salamander and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Blue-Spotted Salamander

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blue-Spotted Salamander	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blue-Spotted Salamander

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

Found in United States.

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.

Blue-Spotted Salamander

The Blue-Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale) is a species in the genus Ambystoma. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

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.