Noctule

About the Noctule

The common noctule (Nyctalus noctula) is a species of insectivorous bat common throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The common noctule's short fur is dark brown after moulting in June (males) or July/August (females); later it changes to red-brown before the onset of winter. When awake, the body temperature is 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) but it decreases significantly during inactivity. The body mass of adult common noctule is 25–30 g (0.88–1.1 oz) and they have a wingspan of 37–40 cm (15–16 in). The species forages with a rapid flying speed of 20–40 km/h (12–25 mph), sometimes up to 60 km/h (37 mph). Because of temporally limited availability of insect prey, they have short daily activity periods before sunrise and after sunset of in total one hour or less and so must cope with up to twenty-three hours of fasting a day. Characterized by its robust body and long, broad wings also has a distinctive, pointed snout and large ears that are essential for its echolocation capabilities.

Most parts of Europe, central Russia, across the Ural mountain, Caucasus, Turkey, the Near East, to southwestern parts of Siberia, the Himalayas, China, Malaysia... Wikipedia →