vs small tortoiseshell

Comatricha laxa compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• is Not Evaluated while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Protozoa (protozoa)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Mycetozoa	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Myxomycetes (Myxomycetes)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Stemonitidales	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Stemonitidaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Comatricha	Aglais
Species	Comatricha laxa	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Asia and Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), and South America (Brazil).

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.

<em>Comatricha laxa</em> is a plasmodial slime mold in the class Myxomycetes, order Stemonitidales, with a documented distribution spanning Asia, Europe, and South America. As a member of the genus <em>Comatricha</em>, it forms stalked sporangia with a characteristic capillitium that forms a loose, open network aiding spore dispersal. The species inhabits rotting logs, dead bark, and moist leaf litter in forested environments where conditions support the plasmodial feeding stage. The plasmodium is a multinucleate, macroscopic structure that migrates over substrates to engulf bacteria and other microorganisms. Geographic range data confirm a wide cosmopolitan distribution in suitable habitats across three continents. <em>C. laxa</em> contributes to decomposition and nutrient cycling in woodland ecosystems. No quantitative biological metrics such as body size or mass are applicable to this organism, and it has not been evaluated by the IUCN.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden