plains zebra vs small tortoiseshell

Equus quagga compared with Aglais urticae

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	plains zebra	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Perissodactyla (Odd-toed Ungulates)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Equidae (Horses & Zebras)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Equus (Horses & Zebras)	Aglais
Species	Equus quagga	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

plains zebra

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~750.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	plains zebra	small tortoiseshell
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	25 years	—
Average Length	2.3 m	—
Average Weight	350.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

plains zebra

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.

plains zebra

The most numerous wild equid, plains zebras inhabit grasslands and savannas of eastern and southern Africa in herds ranging from small family groups to vast aggregations. Their bold black-and-white stripe patterns are unique to each individual and may serve to confuse predators, deter biting insects, and facilitate individual recognition. Zebras form key prey for lions, hyenas, and crocodiles, underpinning savanna food webs.

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.