Marsh Fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh_fritillary
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Nymphalidae
Genus
Euphydryas
Marsh Fritillary belongs to the family Nymphalidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Marsh Fritillary faces severe population declines across its range due to habitat loss and fragmentation of its specialized wetland environments. Agricultural intensification, drainage of marshlands, and abandonment of traditional low-intensity grazing practices have eliminated critical breeding sites and reduced the availability of its primary host plant, devil's-bit scabious.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Wet grasslands, marshes, moorlands, and bog margins where devil's-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis) grows abundantly. Requires traditionally managed, extensively grazed or mown grasslands with specific moisture regimes and low nutrient levels.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Marsh Fritillary faces severe population declines across its range due to habitat loss and fragmentation of its specialized wetland environments. Agricultural intensification, drainage of marshlands, and abandonment of traditional low-intensity grazing practices have eliminated critical breeding sites and reduced the availability of its primary host plant, devil's-bit scabious.
Abandonment of traditional extensive grazing management
Drainage and conversion of wetlands and marshes
Habitat loss and fragmentation from agricultural intensification
Loss of host plant (Succisa pratensis) populations
Climate change affecting wetland hydrology
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/marsh-fritillary