Chisos Mountains Oak vs small tortoiseshell

Quercus tardifolia compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Chisos Mountains Oak is Data Deficient while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chisos Mountains Oak	small 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	Fagaceae (Beech Family)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Quercus (Oaks)	Aglais
Species	Quercus tardifolia	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Chisos Mountains Oak

DD — Data Deficient

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Chisos Mountains Oak	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chisos Mountains Oak

Habitat

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

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.

Chisos Mountains Oak

The Chisos Mountains Oak (Quercus tardifolia) is a rare deciduous oak endemic to the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park in Trans-Pecos Texas, USA. Belonging to the red oak group (section Lobatae) within the family Fagaceae, it is one of the most geographically restricted oaks in North America, known from only a very small area within the high-elevation woodland zones of the park. The species grows at elevations roughly between 1,800 and 2,400 metres, where it occurs in mixed woodland communities alongside other oaks, junipers, and pines. Like other red oaks, its acorns require two years to mature, and the leaves typically display the deep sinuses and bristle-tipped lobes characteristic of the section. The IUCN currently classifies Quercus tardifolia as Data Deficient, reflecting uncertainty about its precise population size, the extent of hybridisation with related oak species, and the degree to which apparent stands represent genetically distinct individuals versus hybrids. Climate change poses a significant long-term threat to this mountain-island endemic, as rising temperatures could compress or eliminate the cooler, moister habitat on which it depends. Conservation efforts focus on accurate taxonomic assessment, population monitoring within Big Bend National Park, and seed banking to preserve genetic diversity.

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.