California alder vs large tortoiseshell

Alnus rhombifolia compared with Nymphalis polychloros

Key Differences

• California alder is Least Concern while large tortoiseshell is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	California alder	large tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Fagales (Beeches & Oaks)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Betulaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Alnus	Nymphalis
Species	Alnus rhombifolia	Nymphalis polychloros

Conservation Status

California alder

LC — Least Concern

large tortoiseshell

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	California alder	large tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

California alder

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found in Canada.

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.

California alder

The California alder (Alnus rhombifolia) is a species in the genus Alnus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

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.