large tortoiseshell vs small tortoiseshell

Nymphalis polychloros compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• large tortoiseshell is Critically Endangered while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	large tortoiseshell	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (動物)	Animalia (動物)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (節足動物)	Arthropoda (節足動物)
Class same	Insecta (昆虫)	Insecta (昆虫)
Order same	Lepidoptera (チョウ目)	Lepidoptera (チョウ目)
Family same	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Nymphalis	Aglais
Species	Nymphalis polychloros	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

large tortoiseshell and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Family level: Nymphalidae. (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Conservation Status

large tortoiseshell

CR — Critically Endangered

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	large tortoiseshell	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

large tortoiseshell

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 9 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (39 countries). 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.

large tortoiseshell

オオキタテハ（Nymphalis polychloros）はIUCNレッドリストで絶滅危惧IA類（CR）に分類されている。深刻な個体数の減少と生息地の喪失により、野生での絶滅リスクが極めて高い状況にある。

small tortoiseshell

スモールトータスシェル(Aglais urticae)はIUCNレッドリストで準絶滅危惧(NT)に分類されている。絶滅危惧種に分類される一歩手前の段階で、保全措置がなければ脆弱になる可能性のある個体群を持つ。

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 39 countries:

🇦🇱 Albania 🇦🇩 Andorra 🇦🇹 Austria 🇧🇾 Belarus 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇮 Finland 🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany 🇬🇷 Greece 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇮🇹 Italy 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein 🇱🇹 Lithuania 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇲🇹 Malta 🇲🇩 Moldova 🇲🇪 Montenegro 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇲🇰 North Macedonia 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇷🇴 Romania 🇷🇺 Russia 🇷🇸 Serbia 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇬🇧 United Kingdom