vs small tortoiseshell

Hydropus trichoderma compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• is Endangered while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Mycenaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Hydropus	Aglais
Species	Hydropus trichoderma	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

EN — Endangered

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Hydropus trichoderma is a small, saprotrophic mushroom with a delicate, slender stipe and a pale, convex cap that grows on decaying woody debris in forest habitats. It is recorded from temperate European forests and contributes to wood decomposition in woodland ecosystems. Its Endangered status reflects rarity and the decline of undisturbed, mature forest with adequate deadwood.

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 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden