Common Goldenring vs small tortoiseshell

Cordulegaster boltonii compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Common Goldenring is Endangered while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Goldenring	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Odonata (Odonata)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Cordulegastridae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Cordulegaster	Aglais
Species	Cordulegaster boltonii	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Goldenring and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

View Class: Insecta

Conservation Status

Common Goldenring

EN — Endangered

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Goldenring

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Common Goldenring

Common Goldenring (Cordulegaster boltonii) is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List. At high risk of extinction in the wild, with significant population decline and ongoing threats to survival.

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.