small tortoiseshell vs Spiny Baskettail

Aglais urticae compared with Epitheca spinigera

Key Differences

• small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened while Spiny Baskettail is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	small tortoiseshell	Spiny Baskettail
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Odonata (Odonata)
Family	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)	Corduliidae
Genus	Aglais	Epitheca
Species	Aglais urticae	Epitheca spinigera

Evolutionary Relationship

small tortoiseshell and Spiny Baskettail share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Spiny Baskettail

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	small tortoiseshell	Spiny Baskettail
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Spiny Baskettail

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in United States.

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.