Scarce Fritillary
Euphydryas maturna
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Nymphalidae
Genus
Euphydryas
Scarce 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 Scarce Fritillary faces severe population declines across its European range due to widespread habitat loss and fragmentation of its specialized woodland environments. Traditional forest management practices that maintained the open woodland structure this species requires have largely disappeared, while climate change is pushing suitable habitat northward and to higher elevations.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Open deciduous and mixed woodlands, forest edges, and clearings with abundant host plants including ash (Fraxinus), aspen (Populus), and willow (Salix) species. Requires sunny woodland areas with a mosaic of open spaces and partial canopy cover, typically in hilly or mountainous regions up to 1500m elevation.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Scarce Fritillary faces severe population declines across its European range due to widespread habitat loss and fragmentation of its specialized woodland environments. Traditional forest management practices that maintained the open woodland structure this species requires have largely disappeared, while climate change is pushing suitable habitat northward and to higher elevations.
Climate change altering suitable habitat zones
Habitat loss and fragmentation of deciduous woodlands
Loss of traditional forest management practices
Decline of host plant availability (ash, aspen, willow)
Forest succession reducing open woodland structure
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 | VUVulnerable | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | VUVulnerable | 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
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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
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/scarce-fritillary