There are fourteen species of the greater fritillaries (genus Speyeria) and sixteen lesser fritillaries (genus Bolloria). 
  The common name comes from a Latin word, fritillus, which means chessboard or dice box.
   This large, powerful butterfly is one of the most widespread fritillaries and can be seen flying quickly in a range of open, sunny habitats.
   The males appear similar the High Brown Fritillary, which is much more rare but sometimes flies with them on bracken covered hillsides.
   The two can be distinguished by the ventral markings, visible when they are feeding on flowers. 
   This large fritillary is a fiery reddish yellow on the dorsal side, with the basal area of the male being always duller.
   The markings are consistent with a black margin, a row of deep black but thin marginal arcs, a very straight, central row of dots, of which only the last one on the forewing is shifted away.
    Between this row of dots and the base there are six thin black transverse bands extending from the subcostal vein into the wing.
   The ventral side of the hindwing is consistent,  bearing numerous silver spots on a partly blue green, partly yellow background, but never a row of eyes in the marginal area, as has the Niobe fritillary (Fabriciana niobe) or the High Brown fritillary.