Merriam’s Pocket Mouse vs small tortoiseshell

Perognathus merriami compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Merriam’s Pocket Mouse is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Merriam’s Pocket Mouse	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	Heteromyidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Perognathus	Aglais
Species	Perognathus merriami	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Merriam’s Pocket Mouse and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Merriam’s Pocket Mouse

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Merriam’s Pocket Mouse	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Merriam’s Pocket Mouse

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.