Short-eared Possum vs small tortoiseshell

Trichosurus caninus compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Short-eared Possum is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Short-eared Possum	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Diprotodontia (Marsupials)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Phalangeridae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Trichosurus	Aglais
Species	Trichosurus caninus	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Short-eared Possum and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Short-eared Possum

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Short-eared Possum	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Short-eared Possum

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.