Fingered Candlesnuff vs small tortoiseshell

Xylaria digitata compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Fingered Candlesnuff is Extinct while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Fingered Candlesnuff	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Sordariomycetes (Sordariomycetes)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Xylariales (Xylariales)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Xylariaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Xylaria	Aglais
Species	Xylaria digitata	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Fingered Candlesnuff

EX — Extinct

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Fingered Candlesnuff	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Fingered Candlesnuff

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark and Norway.

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.