Butterfly ray vs Lesser Noctule

Gymnura micrura compared with Nyctalus leisleri

Key Differences

• Butterfly ray is Near Threatened while Lesser Noctule is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Butterfly ray	Lesser Noctule
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Elasmobranchii	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Myliobatiformes (Myliobatiformes)	Chiroptera (Bats)
Family	Gymnuridae	Vespertilionidae
Genus	Gymnura	Nyctalus
Species	Gymnura micrura	Nyctalus leisleri

Evolutionary Relationship

Butterfly ray and Lesser Noctule share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Butterfly ray

NT — Near Threatened

Lesser Noctule

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Butterfly ray	Lesser Noctule
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Butterfly ray

Habitat

Native to South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Venezuela. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Lesser Noctule

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Sweden, and Ukraine. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Butterfly ray

The Butterfly ray (Gymnura micrura) is a species in the genus Gymnura. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Native to South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.