slit limpet vs small tortoiseshell

Emarginula fissura compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• slit limpet is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	slit limpet	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Mollusca (Mollusks)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Lepetellida (Lepetellida)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Fissurellidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Emarginula	Aglais
Species	Emarginula fissura	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

slit limpet

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	slit limpet	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

slit limpet

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater.

Range

Found across Europe (8 countries).

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 8 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇷 France 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden