Common Sunda Toad vs small tortoiseshell

Duttaphrynus melanostictus compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Common Sunda Toad is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Sunda Toad	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Amphibia (Amphibians)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Anura (Frogs & Toads)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Bufonidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Duttaphrynus	Aglais
Species	Duttaphrynus melanostictus	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Sunda Toad and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Common Sunda Toad

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Sunda Toad	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Sunda Toad

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Madagascar), Asia (4 countries), and Europe (Spain).

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 Sunda Toad

<em>Duttaphrynus melanostictus</em>, the common Sunda toad, is an amphibian in the family Bufonidae, order Anura. It has a wide natural distribution across South and Southeast Asia, ranging from Pakistan and India through to southern China, the Malay Peninsula, and the Indonesian archipelago, and has also been introduced to Madagascar. The species typically inhabits a broad range of environments including urban areas, agricultural land, forest edges, gardens, and disturbed habitats, demonstrating remarkable adaptability to human-modified landscapes. <em>Duttaphrynus melanostictus</em> is characterized by prominent parotoid glands behind the eyes that secrete toxic compounds serving as a defense against predators, a feature shared with other true toads. It is an opportunistic carnivore, feeding on a variety of invertebrates including insects, worms, and small arthropods. Biological traits including average lifespan under natural conditions, typical body measurements, and specific breeding parameters remain poorly documented. The species is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its extensive range and high tolerance for habitat modification, though introduced populations in Madagascar represent a potentially invasive concern.

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 1 countries:

🇪🇸 Spain