Pale ray vs small tortoiseshell

Bathyraja pallida compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Pale ray is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Pale ray	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Elasmobranchii	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Rajiformes (Rajiformes)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Arhynchobatidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Bathyraja	Aglais
Species	Bathyraja pallida	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Pale ray

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Pale ray

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.