Ebony vs small tortoiseshell

Diospyros mun compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Ebony is Critically Endangered while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Ebony	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Ericales (Ericales)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Ebenaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Diospyros	Aglais
Species	Diospyros mun	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Ebony

CR — Critically Endangered

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Ebony	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Ebony

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

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.