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 (동물)	Animalia (동물)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (절지동물)	Arthropoda (절지동물)
Class same	Insecta (곤충)	Insecta (곤충)
Order same	Lepidoptera (나비목)	Lepidoptera (나비목)
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

큰거북나비(Nymphalis polychloros)는 IUCN 적색목록에서 위급(CR)으로 분류되어 있다. 심각한 개체수 감소와 서식지 손실로 인해 야생에서 극도로 높은 멸종 위험에 처해 있다.

small tortoiseshell

작은 거북등 나비(Aglais urticae)는 IUCN 적색 목록에서 준위협(NT) 종으로 분류된다. 위협 종으로 분류되기 직전 단계로, 보전 조치 없이는 취약 종이 될 수 있는 개체군이다.

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