Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Laurasiatheria
Cladus: Scrotifera
Ordo: Chiroptera
Subordo: Yangochiroptera
Superfamilia: Vespertilionoidea
Familia: Vespertilionidae
Subfamilia: Vespertilioninae
Tribus: Pipistrellini
Genus: Nyctalus
Species: Nyctalus azoreum
Name
Nyctalus azoreum Thomas, 1901
Type locality: Portugal, Azores, St. Michael.
References
Thomas, 1901. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, ser. 7, 8: 34.
Conservation status: IUCN: Nyctalus azoreum (Vulnerable)
Nyctalus azoreum in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
Distribution
Azores Islands (Portugal).
Vernacular names
English: Azores Noctule.
The Azores noctule (Nyctalus azoreum) is a species of bat found in the dry forests of the Azores. It is the only species of mammal endemic to the Azores. It has been recorded on most of the islands of the Azores, and remains common on some but is rare on others.[2] Its numbers are threatened due to habitat loss caused by humans, and the remaining populations are quite fragmented. It is known to roost in hollowed-out trees, buildings, and caves.
The species is related to the widespread lesser noctule, and in the past was treated as a subspecies of that species. Genetic studies have found that it originated recently from lesser noctules which colonised the Azores, and has low levels of genetic divergence from its parent species. It nevertheless is much smaller than the lesser noctule and weighs less, has darker fur and has a different frequency of echolocation calls (about 4–5 Hz higher), and is usually treated as a separate species.[3]
As opposed to other bats, the Azores noctule exhibits an unusually high frequency of diurnal flight, frequently hunting insects by day, although it is still most active at night.[4] It has been hypothesised that the Azores noctules' diurnal foraging behaviour may be due to the absence of avian predators in the Azores. Azores noctules still seem to exhibit some anti-predator behaviour, such as leaving their roosting sites in groups, but this may be related to foraging behaviour or non-avian predators such as rats.[4]
References
Russo, D.; Cistrone, L. (2023). "Nyctalus azoreum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023: e.T14922A211008291. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T14922A211008291.en. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
Salgueiro, P; Coelho, MM; Palmeirim, JM; Ruedi, M; et al. (2004). "Mitochondrial DNA variation and population structure of the island endemic Azorean bat (Nyctalus azoreum)". Molecular Ecology. 13 (11): 3357–3366. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2004.02354.x. PMID 15487995.
Salgueiro, P; Ruedi, M; Coelho, MM; Palmeirim, JM (2006). "Genetic divergence and phylogeography in the genus Nyctalus (Mammalia, Chiroptera): implications for population history of the insular bat Nyctalus azoreum ". Genetica. 130 (2): 169–181. doi:10.1007/s10709-006-9004-x. PMID 16941086. S2CID 21604786.
Irwin N.R; Speakman J.R. (2003). "Azorean bats Nyctalus azoreum, cluster as they emerge from roosts, despite the lack of avian predators" (PDF). Acta Chiropterologica. 5 (2): 185–192. doi:10.3161/001.005.0203. S2CID 13673687. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-12-27.
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