Prickled ray vs small tortoiseshell

Malacoraja spinacidermis compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

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

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Prickled 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	Rajidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Malacoraja	Aglais
Species	Malacoraja spinacidermis	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Prickled ray

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Prickled 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.