Invertebrates
It is a crime to kill, injure, capture or disturb several very rare
moths and butterflies that are threatened with extinction in Britain.
Scottish examples include the northern brown argus butterfly and the New
Forest burnet moth. The list of specially protected species also includes several
other invertebrates found in Scotland, including the crayfish, the
medicinal leech, and the freshwater pearl mussel. As with other
species, parts of these animals may not be held or sold, most notably
this includes the pearls from fresh-water mussels. In addition it
is forbidden to sell, or advertise for sale, a number of other
butterflies found in Scotland, for instance the pearl-bordered
fritillary and chequered skipper. Finally it is prohibited to release into the wild a number of invertebrates
including the signal crayfish and the New Zealand flatworm.