Elktoe vs small tortoiseshell

Alasmidonta marginata compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Elktoe is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Elktoe	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Mollusca (Mollusks)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Bivalvia (Bivalvia)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Unionida (Unionida)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Unionidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Alasmidonta	Aglais
Species	Alasmidonta marginata	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Elktoe

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Elktoe

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and United States.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway