''Nyctalus'' is a genus of
vespertilionid
Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat familie ...
bats commonly known as the noctule bats. They are distributed in the temperate and subtropical areas of Europe, Asia and North Africa.
There are eight species within this genus:
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Birdlike noctule
The birdlike noctule (''Nyctalus aviator'') is a species of bat. It nests in the holes in old trees and buildings, and sometimes in mineshafts. It is distributed across Northeast Asia, from northeast China and Siberia through the Korean Peninsu ...
, ''Nyctalus aviator''
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Azores noctule
The Azores noctule (''Nyctalus azoreum'') is a species of bat found in the dry forests of the Azores. It is the only species of mammal endemic to the Azores. It has been recorded on most of the islands of the Azores, and remains common on some b ...
, ''Nyctalus azoreum''
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Japanese noctule
The Japanese noctule (''Nyctalus furvus'') is a species of bat belonging to the family Vespertilionidae
Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vespe ...
, ''Nyctalus furvus''
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Greater noctule bat
The greater noctule bat (''Nyctalus lasiopterus'') is a rare carnivorous bat found in Europe, West Asia, and North Africa. It is the largest and least studied bat in Europe with a wingspan of up to and is one of the few bat species to feed on pa ...
, ''Nyctalus lasiopterus''
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Lesser noctule
The lesser noctule, Leisler's bat or the Irish bat (''Nyctalus leisleri''), is a species of insectivorous bat belonging to the vesper bat family, Vespertilionidae. The species was named to honour the naturalist Johann Philipp Achilles Leisler
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, ''Nyctalus leisleri''
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Mountain noctule
The mountain noctule (''Nyctalus montanus'') is a species of bat found in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Nepal
Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ् ...
, ''Nyctalus montanus''
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Common noctule
The common noctule (''Nyctalus noctula'') is a species of insectivorous bat common throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Description
The common noctule's short fur is dark brown after moulting in June (males) or July/August (females); lat ...
, ''Nyctalus noctula''
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Chinese noctule
The Chinese noctule (''Nyctalus plancyi'') is a common and widespread species of bat belonging to the family Vespertilionidae.
Distribution and habitat
The Chinese noctule is endemic to China and occurs in most of its provinces, plus Hong Kong ...
, ''Nyctalus plancyi''
See also
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Microbat
Microbats constitute the suborder Microchiroptera within the order Chiroptera (bats). Bats have long been differentiated into Megachiroptera (megabats) and Microchiroptera, based on their size, the use of echolocation by the Microchiroptera a ...
References
Bat genera
Taxa named by Thomas Edward Bowdich
{{Vespertilionidae-stub