Dark flying fox vs small tortoiseshell

Pteropus subniger compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Dark flying fox is Extinct while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Dark flying fox	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Chiroptera (Bats)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Pteropodidae (Fruit Bats)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Pteropus (Flying Foxes)	Aglais
Species	Pteropus subniger	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Dark flying fox and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Dark flying fox

EX — Extinct

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Dark flying fox	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Dark flying fox

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.

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.