This is quite superficially similar to, but usually (despite its name) smaller than, the Arran Brown (E. ligea) - see the ligea page for a comparison of features. The ocelli are either very small, usually blind, or even just pin-pricks, in the nominate form, but in the form adyte the ocelli can be quite well developed, especially in the female. T&L records adyte occurring in southern Switzerland although I feel that I encounter this form in the French Alpes rather more frequently than the nominate form. I strongly suspect that all of the photos on this page are adyte.

The red upf post-discal band of adyte is often noticeably constricted at s3 where it is straight-edged on both sides and often cut by the veins both above and below. The fringes are chequered, so the only other Erebia it could be confused with is ligea.

This is a very variable species, even within the same locality, as indicated by the comments below. I have found it to be very common, often occurring in large numbers in both France and Switzerland. In 2010 I chanced upon over a hundred euryale puddling in one small spot.

observations

it is puddling, so I had assumed it to be a male, but the body shape looks decidedly female. I am sure all the other euryale puddling there were males, as the undersides were visible.

this may possibly be a male of the nominate form. The illustration of the nominate form male as shown in T&L does not resemble anything I have seen in France or Switzerland. It may be the nominate form because the ocelli are fairly small and blind, but the red post-discal band is wide and strong, so adyte is more likely.

a typical male of the form adyte.

a male, taking salts. The strong red upf post-discal band and bright ocelli (c.f. 8175) initially suggested the Piedmont Ringlet (E. meolans) as did the darkness and strong ocelli of the underside as in 13021 below, and I originally had these erroneously on the meolans page. They are both euryale of the form adyte and are unquestionably the brightest ocelli I have ever seen for euryale, looking unlike the illustrations (even of adyte) given in most books. The width of the red post-discal band on 12202 suggested meolans rather than euryale as did the "leaking" of the unf band in 13021 into the discal region. However, there are two clues: 1) the upf red band is very rectangular in s3 and whole band has rather a square feel to it, whereas in meolans it tends to be rather more rounded, and 2) the male meolans red band is cut quite clearly above and below s3 by the veins, whereas for euryale the cut is quite narrow, if at all. But the most significant feature, and quite characteristic, is the strongly chequered fringes, which clearly indicate euryale as noted above.

see comments on 12202 above.

a male, on the basis of the absence of any white markings on the unh.

a mating pair, female above, quite dark but showing the classic euryale dentate markings but with no ocelli. The male unh is almost unmarked.