Gray Red-backed Vole vs small tortoiseshell

Myodes rufocanus compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Gray Red-backed Vole is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gray Red-backed Vole	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Cricetidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Myodes	Aglais
Species	Myodes rufocanus	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Gray Red-backed Vole and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Gray Red-backed Vole

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gray Red-backed Vole	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gray Red-backed Vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in 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

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