Dwarf Puffball vs small tortoiseshell

Lycoperdon dermoxanthum compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Dwarf Puffball is Data Deficient while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Dwarf Puffball	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	Lycoperdaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Lycoperdon	Aglais
Species	Lycoperdon dermoxanthum	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Dwarf Puffball

DD — Data Deficient

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Dwarf Puffball	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Dwarf Puffball

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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.