Azores Noctule vs Basking shark

Nyctalus azoreum compared with Rhincodon typus

Key Differences

• Azores Noctule is Vulnerable while Basking shark is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Azores Noctule	Basking shark
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)
Order	Chiroptera (Bats)	Lamniformes (Mackerel Sharks)
Family	Vespertilionidae	Rhincodontidae (Whale Sharks)
Genus	Nyctalus	Rhincodon (Whale Sharks)
Species	Nyctalus azoreum	Rhincodon typus

Evolutionary Relationship

Azores Noctule and Basking shark share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Azores Noctule

VU — Vulnerable

Basking shark

EN — Endangered

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Azores Noctule	Basking shark
Diet	—	Omnivore
Average Lifespan	—	100 years
Average Length	—	12.0 m
Average Weight	—	20.0 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

Azores Noctule

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Portugal. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Basking shark

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate grasslands and steppes, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 5 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Distributed across Chile, Portugal, Taiwan, and Venezuela. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Azores Noctule

The Azores Noctule (Nyctalus azoreum) is a species in the genus Nyctalus. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Basking shark

The world's largest fish, whale sharks can exceed 12 meters and 20 tonnes, inhabiting tropical and warm temperate oceans worldwide. Despite their massive size, they are harmless filter feeders, consuming plankton, fish eggs, and small fish by swimming open-mouthed through prey-dense water. They undertake vast seasonal migrations following plankton blooms. Endangered due to fishing, boat strikes, and the live fin trade, with population declining by approximately 50% over the past 75 years.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇵🇹 Portugal