Niobe Fritillary
Fabriciana niobe
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niobe_fritillary
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Nymphalidae
Genus
Fabriciana
Niobe 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 Niobe Fritillary faces severe population declines across its range due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, abandonment of traditional grazing practices, and climate change have dramatically reduced the availability of suitable breeding habitats and host plants, pushing this butterfly species toward extinction.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Semi-natural grasslands, meadows, and moorlands with abundant violet species, particularly in montane and subalpine regions. The species requires flower-rich grasslands maintained by extensive grazing or traditional mowing practices, typically at elevations between 500-2000m.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Niobe Fritillary faces severe population declines across its range due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, abandonment of traditional grazing practices, and climate change have dramatically reduced the availability of suitable breeding habitats and host plants, pushing this butterfly species toward extinction.
Abandonment of traditional extensive grazing
Agricultural intensification and land use change
Climate change and shifting temperature patterns
Habitat fragmentation
Loss of host plant species (violets)
Community Sightings
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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
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/niobe-fritillary