Gray-headed Flying Fox vs Lesser Noctule

Pteropus poliocephalus compared with Nyctalus leisleri

Key Differences

• Gray-headed Flying Fox is Vulnerable while Lesser Noctule is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gray-headed Flying Fox	Lesser Noctule
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Chiroptera (Bats)	Chiroptera (Bats)
Family	Pteropodidae (Fruit Bats)	Vespertilionidae
Genus	Pteropus (Flying Foxes)	Nyctalus
Species	Pteropus poliocephalus	Nyctalus leisleri

Evolutionary Relationship

Gray-headed Flying Fox and Lesser Noctule share a common ancestor at the Order level: Chiroptera. (Bats)

Conservation Status

Gray-headed Flying Fox

VU — Vulnerable

Lesser Noctule

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gray-headed Flying Fox	Lesser Noctule
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gray-headed Flying Fox

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.