Brown Diving Beetle vs large tortoiseshell

Agabus brunneus compared with Nymphalis polychloros

Key Differences

• Brown Diving Beetle is Extinct while large tortoiseshell is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Brown Diving Beetle	large tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Dytiscidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Agabus	Nymphalis
Species	Agabus brunneus	Nymphalis polychloros

Evolutionary Relationship

Brown Diving Beetle and large tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

Brown Diving Beetle

EX — Extinct

large tortoiseshell

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Brown Diving Beetle	large tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Brown Diving Beetle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium and Sweden.

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.

Brown Diving Beetle

The Brown Diving Beetle (Agabus brunneus) is a species in the genus Agabus. It is currently classified as Extinct on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

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 2 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇸🇪 Sweden