European Mink vs small tortoiseshell

Mustela lutreola compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• European Mink is Extinct while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	European Mink	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Mustela	Aglais
Species	Mustela lutreola	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

European Mink

EX — Extinct

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	European Mink	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

European Mink

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

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 6 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇫🇷 France 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇷🇺 Russia 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇬🇧 United Kingdom