Mérida Nightshade vs small tortoiseshell

Solanum ripense compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Mérida Nightshade is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Mérida Nightshade	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Solanales (Solanales)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Solanaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Solanum	Aglais
Species	Solanum ripense	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Mérida Nightshade

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Mérida Nightshade

Habitat

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

Range

Found in Colombia.

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.