Lesser Noctule
Nyctalus leisleri
Silhouette: Archibald Thorburn · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderChiroptera (Bats)
- FamilyVespertilionidae (Evening Bats)
- GenusNyctalus (Noctules)
- SpeciesNyctalus leisleri (Lesser Noctule)
About the Lesser Noctule
The lesser noctule or the Leisler's 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.
It is a medium-sized bat, slightly smaller than the common noctule. It has a length of 48 to 68 mm (head and body) and a wingspan of 260 to 330 mm. The forearm measures 38 to 47 mm and the bat's weight is 11 to 20 grams. The face, ears and wings are dark. The fur is brown, darker at the base than the tip unlike that of the common noctule which is the same colour along its length. The undersides of the arms are hairy giving it the alternative name "hairy-armed bat". The ears are short and rounded with a mushroom-shaped tragus. The wings are long and narrow.
The lesser noctule is found locally across Europe and western Asia, eastwards as far as the Urals and Himalayas. It is also found in north-west Africa, the Canary Islands and Madeira. The form in the Azores is often considered to be a separate species – Azores noctule (Nyctalus azoreum).
It is typically found in forests, both coniferous and deciduous, but has also adapted... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Lesser Noctule in Cévennes National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Cévennes National Park
Noctule
Nyctalus noctula
Common Pipistrelle
Pipistrellus pipistrellus
Kuhl's pipistrelle
Pipistrellus kuhlii
Savi's Pipistrelle
Hypsugo savii
Geoffroy's Bat
Myotis emarginatus
Daubenton's bat
Myotis daubentonii
Pygmy Pipistrelle
Pipistrellus pygmaeus
Western Barbastelle
Barbastella barbastellus
Gray big-eared bat
Plecotus austriacus
Long-fingered Bat
Myotis capaccinii
Cryptic Myotis
Myotis crypticus
Lesser Horseshoe Bat
Rhinolophus hipposideros
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 2 | Ecrins National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 3 | Vanoise National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 4 | Mercantour National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 5 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Lesser Noctule in Cévennes National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Noctule sighting in Cévennes National Park, based on 12 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Lesser Noctule in Cévennes National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Lesser Noctule in Cévennes National Park in our monthly data.