Distinguished Inkcap vs small tortoiseshell

Coprinopsis alopecia compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Distinguished Inkcap is Not Evaluated while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Distinguished Inkcap	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Psathyrellaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Coprinopsis	Aglais
Species	Coprinopsis alopecia	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Distinguished Inkcap

NE — Not Evaluated

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Distinguished Inkcap

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil 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 (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.