Common Spreadwing vs Lesser Noctule

Lestes sponsa compared with Nyctalus leisleri

Key Differences

• Common Spreadwing is Least Concern while Lesser Noctule is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Spreadwing	Lesser Noctule
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Odonata (Odonata)	Chiroptera (Bats)
Family	Lestidae	Vespertilionidae
Genus	Lestes	Nyctalus
Species	Lestes sponsa	Nyctalus leisleri

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Spreadwing and Lesser Noctule share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Common Spreadwing

LC — Least Concern

Lesser Noctule

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Spreadwing	Lesser Noctule
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Spreadwing

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

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.

Common Spreadwing

Common Spreadwing (Lestes sponsa) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇸🇪 Sweden