Downland Conch vs small tortoiseshell

Aethes tesserana compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Downland Conch is Critically Endangered while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Downland Conch	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (प्राणी)	Animalia (प्राणी)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (सन्धिपाद)	Arthropoda (सन्धिपाद)
Class same	Insecta (कीट)	Insecta (कीट)
Order same	Lepidoptera (शल्कपंखी गण)	Lepidoptera (शल्कपंखी गण)
Family	Tortricidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Aethes	Aglais
Species	Aethes tesserana	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Downland Conch and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Order level: Lepidoptera. (शल्कपंखी गण)

Conservation Status

Downland Conch

CR — Critically Endangered

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Downland Conch	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Downland Conch

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its 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.

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 3 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇸🇪 Sweden