Eyespot skate vs small tortoiseshell

Atlantoraja cyclophora compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Eyespot skate is Endangered while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Eyespot skate	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Elasmobranchii	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Rajiformes (Rajiformes)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Arhynchobatidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Atlantoraja	Aglais
Species	Atlantoraja cyclophora	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Eyespot skate

EN — Endangered

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Eyespot skate	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Eyespot skate

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.