comma vs small tortoiseshell

Polygonia c-album compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

comma is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	comma	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order same	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family same	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Polygonia	Aglais
Species	Polygonia c-album	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

comma and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Family level: Nymphalidae. (Brush-footed Butterflies)

View Family: Nymphalidae

Conservation Status

comma

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

comma

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (40 countries).

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.

comma

comma (Polygonia c-album) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

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.