Siberian Brown
Coenonympha phryne
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triphysa_phryne
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Nymphalidae
Genus
Coenonympha
Siberian Brown 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 Siberian Brown butterfly faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in northern Eurasia. Climate change poses additional threats by altering the delicate temperature and moisture conditions required for its grassland habitats and host plants. The species' restricted distribution and specialized ecological requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits dry grasslands, steppe meadows, and forest-steppe ecotones across northern Eurasia, typically in areas with sparse vegetation and specific grass species that serve as larval host plants. The species requires open, sun-exposed habitats with particular microclimatic conditions including well-drained soils and moderate moisture levels.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Siberian Brown butterfly faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in northern Eurasia. Climate change poses additional threats by altering the delicate temperature and moisture conditions required for its grassland habitats and host plants. The species' restricted distribution and specialized ecological requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Climate change altering grassland ecosystems
Habitat loss from agricultural conversion
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Degradation of host plant communities
Fragmentation of remaining habitat patches
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 | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
| EU | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
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). Siberian Brown (Coenonympha phryne). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/siberian-brown