Larkspur vs small tortoiseshell

Delphinium iris compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Larkspur is Critically Endangered while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Larkspur	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Ranunculales (Ranunculales)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Ranunculaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Delphinium	Aglais
Species	Delphinium iris	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Larkspur

CR — Critically Endangered

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Larkspur

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

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.