What type of creature is a Mountain Ringlet?

The small mountain ringlet or mountain ringlet (Erebia epiphron) is a butterfly of the family 'Nymphalidae'. It is found in mountainous regions of southern and central Europe. It is found in two main regions in the British Isles. In England, it is found in the Lake District of Cumberland and Westmorland. It is also found in western central Scotland, primarily in the counties of Argyllshire, West Inverness-shire and Mid Perthshire with a few scattered colonies elsewhere. The butterfly is surprisingly absent from Snowdonia and the Pennines.

It is only found in discrete colonies in remote locations, has an extremely-short flight period and can be very difficult to find in anything other than bright sunshine, since the adults tend to remain sheltered deep in grass tussocks in overcast and cool conditions. Given the right temperature this butterfly will take to the air as soon as the sun shines, bringing an apparently dormant landscape to life. As its name suggests, this butterfly is found in mountainous areas, typically at altitudes between 450 and 800 metres (1476 feet to 2625 feet) above sea level. The butterfly forms discrete colonies in particular areas of the mountains they inhabit and, on good sites, may be seen by the hundred.