Japanese Hare vs small tortoiseshell

Lepus brachyurus compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Japanese Hare is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Japanese Hare	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Lagomorpha (Rabbits & Hares)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Leporidae (Rabbits & Hares)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Lepus	Aglais
Species	Lepus brachyurus	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Japanese Hare

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Japanese Hare

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.